Executive Board Council of Countries Committees Our Partners Pilot Project Former Contributors top OUR COMMUNITY ERGA is an bottom-up initiative based on people, consisting of hundreds of scientists across the entire European continent and beyond. Research institutions, infrastructure facilities as well as partner genome projects will play an important role within ERGA. Finally, ERGA will have a focus on societal needs particularly related to Biodiversity conservation. For that purpose, ERGA will work engaging governmental and non-governmental entities and will closely involve citizens in different actions. Executive Board Executive Board executive-board@erga-biodiversity.eu Robert Waterhouse Chair Ann Mc Cartney Vice Chair Olga Vinnere Pettersson Vice Chair Tyler Alioto Scientific Officer Kay Lucek Partnership Officer Stefaniya Kamenova Dissemination Officer Lada Lukić Bilela Social Integration Officer Camila Mazzoni Funding Opportunities Officer Jaakko Pohjoismäki Genomic Outreach Officer List of Former Executive Board Members > Council of Country Representatives Contact the national representatives for more information on the ERGA community in your country! Andorra Andorra@erga-biodiversity.eu Manel Niell Bernat Burriel List of Former Council Members > Council of Countries Committees SSP - Sampling & Sample Processing samples@erga-biodiversity.eu More > DAC - Data Analysis Committee analysis@erga-biodiversity.eu More > CE - Community Engagement citizenscience@erga-biodiversity.eu More > SAC - Sequencing and Assembly Committee assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu More > ITIC - IT & Infrastructure Committee itinfra@erga-biodiversity.eu More > TKT - Training and Knowledge Transfer training@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Annotation Committee annotation@erga-biodiversity.eu More > ELSI - Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues elsi@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Social Justice Committee socialjustice@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Committees Our Partners Our Partners ERGA is the pan-European partner of the Earth Biogenome Project (EBP) Affiliated Initiatives Associated Partners Pilot Project Pilot Project Committee Coordinators pilot@erga-biodiversity.eu Giulio Formenti Alice Mouton Ann Mc Cartney Learn more about the Pilot Project Former Contributors SSP - Sampling & Sample Processing Committee Filter by Type Astrid Böhne (Former Committee Chair) Former Contributors

The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative is a pan-European scientific response to current threats to biodiversity. Reference genomes provide the most complete insight into the genetic basis that forms each species and represent a powerful resource in understanding how biodiversity functions. With approxima HOME A GENOME ATLAS OF EUROPEAN BIODIVERSITY The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative is a pan-European scientific response to current threats to biodiversity. Reference genomes provide the most complete insight into the genetic basis that forms each species and represent a powerful resource in understanding how biodiversity functions. With approximately one fifth of the ~200,000 European species at risk of extinction, we need to act fast and together to generate high-quality complete genome resources in large scale. Science needs genomes to understand biodiversity, biodiversity needs to be understood to be protected. HIGHLIGHTS ERGA News #41 - September 2026 Starship transposons and a new framework to understand fungal evolution ERGA News #40 - August 2026 EVENTS Conferences 2026 - Let's connect! ATLASea: progress on sequencing marine biodiversity Sampling for genomics studies across the tree of life Open to Collaborate ERGA is committed to the development of new modes of collaboration, engagement, and partnership with Indigenous peoples for the care and stewardship of past and future heritage collections. Calls OUR MISSION 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 WHAT WE DO Establishing high-quality reference genomes requires an interdisciplinary workflow From species to genomes … and beyond. From species selection to data analysis, the process of creating reference genomes for the entire biodiversity will involve a deep synergy among museums, research institutes, universities, sequencing centres, bioinformatics and computational groups. Citizens will also play an important role supporting the inclusion of all types of species. WHAT WE AIM FOR Creating and consolidating a collaborative and interdisciplinary network of scientists across Europe and associated countries Connecting relevant infrastructure across Europe following a distributed model that can dynamically increase Propagating guidelines for state-of-the-art genome establishment through training and knowledge transfer Next La comunidad ERGA tiene como objetivo optimizar la producción de genomas de referencia mediante el desarrollo y el intercambio de protocolos y flujos de trabajo, brindando acceso a recursos y apoyando el desarrollo de capacidades a través de la transferencia de conocimientos - para mejorar y ampliar el uso de datos genómicos para la protección y restauración de la biodiversidad Next OUR PROJECTS ERGA Pilot The Pilot Project was launched to demonstrate the feasibility of continent-wide collaboration. It was established, funded, and driven entirely by its members. Read more >> Biodiversity Genomics Europe ERGA has recently been funded as part of the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project through the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action. Read more ERGA Community Genomes Are you planning or developing a reference genome project of a European species? Join the growing family of ERGA Community G enomes! Read mo re “Species conservation is urgent and demands deep knowledge of the genetic features of their populations. A coordinated effort to generate complete reference genomes for all European biodiversity, such as what we are proposing with ERGA, can give us the whole picture about the adaptive differences and extent of a need for genetic rescue among populations and species.” Dr. Camila Mazzoni, Founding Chair, ERGA. Research Group Leader Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin, Germany

OUR PARTNER PROJECTS ERGA is the pan-European partner of the Earth Biogenome Project (EBP) Regional Partners: French Atlas of Marine Genomes (ATLASea) Earth Biogenome Project Norge (EBP-Nor) Swedish Earth BioGenome Project Worldwide Partners:

Newsroom Project Name https://www.uef.fi/en/article/erga-is-mapping-the-dna-of-european-species-finland-represented-by-a-mountain-hare-genome

Glossary This page provides explanations about terms and acronyms often used within ERGA and in the context of Biodiversity Genomics. You can filter the terms alphabetically or according to categories: Annotation Citizen Science Data Analysis ELSI IT & Infrastructure Media & Communications Other Sampling & Sample Processing Sequencing & Assembly A B C D E F G H I J K L M O P R S T V W References > (Genome) annotation The process of identifying the functions of different pieces of a genome. This includes genes that code for proteins and non coding features (e.g. intron-exon structure of protein coding genes, promotors, transposable elements). Typically performed using computational methods, followed by manual curation. (Genome) assembly A genome assembly is a representation of an organism’s genome that is made using computer programs to turn (assemble) raw sequence data into longer, continuous sequences. (Genome) completeness An estimate of how well a reference genome represents the complete sequence of the target organism. A complete genome should equal the haploid genome size of the target, but may be defined when ‘all chromosomes are gapless and have no runs of 10 or more ambiguous bases, there are no unplaced or unlocalized scaffolds, and all expected chromosomes are present.’ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/). There are different approaches to estimate the completeness, like BUSCO, analysing K-mers, etc. ABS Access & Benefit Sharing BGE Biodiversity Genomics Europe. The BGE Project has received funding through a Horizon Europe call on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The overarching BGE project includes two streams of genomic research: reference genomes and barcoding, in an effort to establish ERGA and BIOSCAN as the European nodes of the Earth Biogenome Project and of the International Barcode of Life (IBOL), respectively. BUSCO A bioinformatic method (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologues) used to estimate the completeness of the coding fraction of an organism’s genome based on the proportion of (lineage specific) single copy orthologous genes that are found in a genome assembly. Biodiversity genomics The application of genomic methods to research biodiversity. CARE Principles The CARE principles for Indigenous data governance (https://www.gida-global.org/care) provide a governance framework that supports the recognition of rights and interests Indigenous Peoples’ to their physical and digital data as well as their Indigenous Knowledges. CBD Convention on Biological Diversity COPO The Collaborative OPen Omics (COPO) platform is for researchers to publish their research assets, providing metadata annotation and deposition capability. It allows researchers to describe their datasets according to community standards and broker the submission of such data to appropriate repositories whilst tracking the resulting accessions/identifiers. Learn more about COPO in this article by the Earlham Institute. CS Citizen Science Committee Chromosome-level assembly the process of generating a contiguous sequence of all chromosomes of a genome, often aided by genetic maps or proximity ligation techniques (3C-seq, Hi-C); term also used to refer to the resulting genome sequence. Council meetings During the monthly ERGA council meetings, the representatives of countries and other genome projects associated with ERGA meet to discuss and vote on important matters related to ERGA’s governance and actions. The council is the main decision making body of the consortium. Learn more about ERGA's structure in our Governance Document. DAC Data Analysis Committee DSI Digital Sequence Information - learn more: https://www.cbd.int/dsi-gr/ DToL The Darwin Tree of Life Project aims to sequence the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland. EBP The Earth BioGenome Project EBP Genome assembly quality standard 6.C.Q40 Minimum reference standard of 6.C.Q40, i.e. megabase N50 contig continuity and chromosomal scale N50 scaffolding, with less than 1/10,000 error rate. For species with chromosome N50 smaller than a megabase this will be C.C.Q40. Additional recommendations include K-mer completeness >90%, BUSCO complete single-copy single >90%, BUSCO complete single duplicate < 5%, and Gaps/Gbp <1000. EC European Commission ELSI Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (Committee) ENA The European Nucleotide Archive (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena) is a global repository for sequence data and provides resources that support management and access to sequence data. ERGA European Reference Genome Atlas ERGA Plenary Our plenary meetings are open to all registered ERGA members and generally include short updates given by committee chairs and one invited talk on various themes connected to biodiversity genomics (watch the previous ones here). ERGANews ERGA’s monthly newsletter, includes important updates about the consortium, each of the committees and associated projects. Our newsletters are usually published on the first Tuesday of each month. All editions of the newsletter are stored here. Equity Deserving According to the Canadian Council (https://canadacouncil.ca/glossary/equity-seeking-groups) equity deserving groups are those individual researchers, communities, Peoples, regions or countries that have identified barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources due to disadvantage and/or discrimination and that are actively seeking, and deserving of social justice and reparation. The discrimination experienced could be caused by attitudinal, historic, social, and environmental barriers that could be based on a plethora of characteristics that are including (but not limited to) sex, age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, sexual orientation, and creed. FAIR Principles A set of principles to guide appropriate management and curation of scientific data (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/) that emphasise data accessibility and use by ensuring that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Due to the increasing amount of scientific data being reposited, FAIR guidelines promote a data format that is amenable to automated computational access of data by stakeholders Galaxy Galaxy is an open source, web-based platform for data intensive biomedical research. Genome Report A genome report is a technical publication that describes all the steps taken to produce a reference genome: sampling, sequencing, assembling, annotating. They often have a standardised format and structure that allows readers to quickly and easily understand the quality of the genome and how it was generated. GoaT Genomes On A Tree HE Horizon Europe , sometimes refers to the BGE project funded under HE HSM Hierarchical Storage Management is both a data management and data storage technique which transparently manages the movement of data between the different layers of a tiered storage based on file size thresholds, usage and I/O pressure. Usually, a tiered storage is composed of one or more layers of disk arrays, ordered by capacity, latency, redundancy and storage cost. A slow but economically effective archival layer is at the bottom, composed of magnetic tape libraries and automated tape robots, with the highest capacity and latency. The movement between layers is automatically triggered. Haplotype A haplotype refers to the collection of genetic material within an organism that is inherited together. Haplotype may be used to describe a few loci or any number of chromosomes (a chromosome-scale haplotype). Hi-C Sequencing-based method used to study three-dimensional interactions among chromatin regions by measuring the frequency of contact between pairs of loci. Since contact frequency is related to the distance between a pair of loci, Hi-C linking information is used to help with scaffolding stages during a genome assembly process. Hi-C map / graph production The occurrence and frequency of Hi-C contacts are analysed and used in assembly scaffolding. They are typically visualised in Hi-C 2D heatmaps with the full genome sequence on the X and Y axis and a markup for each observed contact. HiFi reads HiFi (High Fidelity) PacBio reads are produced by taking multiple sequences of the same molecule to provide a consensus sequence that is usually 12-20kbp long and has a low error rate (>99.9 % consensus accuracy). INSDC International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (https://www.insdc.org/) is an initiative between the DDBJ, EMBL-EBI and NCBI that together act as a global repository of sequence data and associated metadata, and provide tools and services that allow access to genomic resources. ITIC IT & Infrastructure Committee IsoSeq This is a sequencing protocol developed by PacBio that aims to sequence full-length transcripts using the accurate, long read capabilities of PacBio HiFi technology. IsoSeq data facilitate analysis of transcriptomes and genome annotation by identifying full-length isoforms of transcripts. JEDI / DEIJ Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee K-mer A K-mer is a DNA sequence of length k; for example, the sequence AGCT contains the 3-mers (K-mers of length 3) AGC and GCT. Library DNA, cDNA, or RNA that has been prepared for NGS within (usually) a specific size range and containing adapters, which are designed to be appropriate for (a) specific sequencing platform(s). M&C Media & Communications Committee Metadata A collection of data that provides contextual information about multiple characteristics of other, corresponding original data. ONT Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT; https://nanoporetech.com/) is a next generation sequencing technology whereby sequence data are generated from the changes in current that occur as single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules pass through nanoscale protein pores (nanopores). ONT provides long read data (up to several megabases) that facilitate genome assembly. Omni-C Modified version of Hi-C that uses a sequence-independent endonuclease during its protocol to produce more even sequence coverage increasing overall resolution. Open data Open data are freely accessible and unrestricted data that can be accessed, used,reused and shared with third parties for any purpose. PUID A permanent unique identifier is a unique label for an object that does not change, such as the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) attached with a scientific publication. PacBio Pacific Biosciences (PacBio; https://www.pacb.com/) is a single-molecule, real time (SMRT) next generation sequencing technology in which sequence data are generated by fluorescent light emission that occurs when a DNA polymerase adds nucleotides. PacBio produces long read data (tens of kilobases) that facilitate genome assembly. RNA-Seq RNA-Seq is a technique that determines the complete or partial RNA sequence using NGS. The RNA expression profiles vary in different tissues of the same organism and can be influenced by physiopathological circumstances. RNA-Seq data facilitate genome assembly by providing empirical evidence for annotation of transcribed regions. Reference genome An accepted standard representation of an organism’s DNA sequence. High-quality reference genomes typically have high completeness (chromosome-level with few gaps in sequence), few errors, and are annotated and accessible. A reference genome serves as a tool for alignment-based analyses, such as variant calling or RNAseq, and has many other applications, for example, phylogenetics and evolutionary relationships, identification of genes and variants, functional analysis and comparative genomics. Reference genomes referred to as “drafts” are those that are under active construction and refinement, and not yet finalised through manual curation. SAC Sequencing and Assembly Committee SOP A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a document that provides detailed instructions on how to perform an activity, outlining the step-by-step process required for its execution. SRA Sequence Read Archive SSP Sampling & Sample Processing (Committee) TKT Training & Knowledge Transfer Committee References The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics (Glossary)- bioRxiv 2023.09.25.559365; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.25.559365 How genomics can help biodiversity conservation; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2023.01.005 Refererences

annotation@erga-biodiversity.eu < Back Annotation Committee annotation@erga-biodiversity.eu Annotations transform genomes into larger sources of knowledge and offer critical added value to genome assemblies. They serve as a direct link between the genome sequence and function and facilitate comparisons across taxa, both on a large and small scale. The ERGA Annotation Committee is composed of researchers and bioinformaticians who have experience in using computational methods to predict the structural and functional composition of whole genomes. We strive to understand and use the most advanced analytical methods for annotating genomes, to develop new methods for annotation and its evaluation, and to align with the standards set by the EBP. We are committed to promoting the best possible annotation pipelines are available to and used by the annotation community and new researchers entering this field. The committee meets regularly to review the progress of the annotation in ERGA-genomes, discuss current issues and challenges, and propose changes to improve the annotation process. (V.1.0 16.05.2023) Chair Alice Dennis Coordinator Christian de Guttry Steering Committee Aureliano Bombarely Hugues Roest Crollius Henrik Lantz Fergal Martin Florian Maumus Committee Resources Structural Annotation Guide Pre-trained AUGUSTUS models 💡ERGA Knowledge Hub Pipelines BRAKER3 Protein-Coding Annotation Pipeline ERGA News #41 - September 2026 ERGA Newsletter Starship transposons and a new framework to understand fungal evolution Events ERGA News #40 - August 2026 ERGA Newsletter

ERGA Calendar

ERGA Library Filter by Category Select Category Publication Biodiversity Genomics Research Practices Require Harmonising to Meet Stakeholder Needs in Conservation Year: 2025 DOI/URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.70001 Next Publication A chromosome-level genome assembly of the European green toad (Bufotes viridis) Year: 2025 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf002 Next Publication Chromosome-level reference genome assembly for the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) Year: 2025 DOI/URL: https://peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10.24072/pcjournal.514/ Next Publication The genome sequence of the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Year: 2025 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.156485.1 Next Publication Nuclear and mitochondrial genome assemblies for the endangered wood-decaying fungus Somion occarium Year: 2025 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf003 Next Publication Chromosome-scale genome assembly and de novo annotation of Alopecurus aequalis Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-04222-y Next Publication A Faroese perspective on decoding life for sustainable use of nature and protection of biodiversity Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00068-0 Next Publication The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00054-6 Next Publication Building a Portuguese coalition for biodiversity genomics Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00061-7 Next Publication Contextualising samples: supporting reference genomes of European biodiversity through sample and associated metadata collection Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00053-7 Next Publication First Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of a Ribbon Worm from the Hoplonemertea Clade, Emplectonema gracile, and Its Structural Annotation Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evae127 (Funded by the Research Council of Norway project “InvertOmics—phylogeny and evolution of lophotrochozoan invertebrates based on genomic data” (project number: 300587 to T.H.S.) Next Publication The genome sequence of the Violet Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa violacea (Linnaeus, 1785): a hymenopteran species undergoing range expansion Year: 2024 DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-024-00720-2 Next 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3

Social Justice Committee Social Justice Committee Definition Generating high-quality eukaryotic reference genomes is transforming our understanding of biology and evolution. The process of developing this resource so that it has long-term utility is complex and intricate, requiring not only technical and scientific expertise but also the integration of social justice principles. These data will have a significant impact on society, making the incorporation of social justice principles essential. In the ERGA community research setting, social justice means treating everyone fairly and ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds can benefit from our research. Key components of this process include diversity in research participation, fair distribution of research benefits, adherence to high ethical standards, dissemination of research findings to a broad audience, and fostering an inclusive and supportive research environment. The ERGA Social Justice Committee is dedicated to embedding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into every aspect of eukaryotic genome production, from sampling to results dissemination. This committee serves as an ethical compass for ERGA members, guiding the community to ensure that every step in the genome generation pipeline is conducted with social responsibility and respect for diversity. We aim to ensure both scientific rigor and social responsibility in our guidelines for generating high-quality reference genomes by integrating these principles. Authors in alphabetical order Chiara Bortoluzzi, Christian de Guttry, James Fleming, Fabrizio Ghiselli, Jennifer Leonard, Rebekah Oomen Objectives Promoting Diversity In ERGA, diversity is multifaceted, encompassing the composition of research teams with individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise, the variety of taxa sequenced and their geographical origins, as well as the involvement of stakeholders and citizen scientists. This approach ensures research methodologies and outcomes reflect nature's extensive diversity. Ensuring Equity Equity in ERGA is about providing equal access to resources and opportunities across all individuals, communities, countries, and research institutions. It particularly aims to include those historically underrepresented or marginalised. Transfer of Knowledge is integral to this effort, ensuring broad participation in this research. Advancing Inclusion Inclusion involves creating a research environment that values and welcomes the contributions of all, aiming to promote a setting in which every participant can thrive and deliver their maximum potential. To achieve this, we focus on enhanced communication tools, aiming to ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported. Upholding Justice ensuring genomic research processes are available to interested researchers. It also means recognizing and addressing traditional social inequalities affecting current research practices. Application in High-Quality Reference Genome Generation Diversity Sequencing: Allocate sequencing capacity to underrepresented taxa to broaden biodiversity knowledge. Collaboration: Establish diverse consortia to ensure broad geographic representation in genomic research initiatives. Promote gender equality in research teams and leadership positions within genomic projects. Outreach: Develop educational materials on genomics tailored to different academic backgrounds, ages, cultures, and languages. Equity Sample collection : Ensure equitable access to the benefits from genetic resources for source countries and communities, in line with the Access and Benefit Sharing framework (ABS) and the Nagoya Protocol. Ensuring, where possible, equitable access to the field for researchers with diverse needs. Wet lab: Partner with local labs in sample-origin countries to build capacity and share expertise. Sequencing : Offer training programs and protocol sharing in sequencing techniques for scientists from all backgrounds. Genome assembly: Provide open-source software and pipelines together with cloud-based computational resources for researchers who need access to bioinformatic support and computing power. Publishing : Encourage open access availability, either through open access publication or deposition of versions of papers in open access repositories. Technology transfer: Facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge genomic technologies to laboratories in low-income countries; Provide legal and technical assistance to navigate regulations. Inclusion Sample collection: Implement informed consent protocols that respect Indigenous and local communities' rights and traditions. Empower the efforts of local taxonomic experts alongside those communities throughout the sample collection process. Publishing: Adopt open-access policies for publishing results, making information freely available to the community as soon as possible. Data sharing: Facilitate and encourage the rapid sharing of data in global databases that are freely accessible and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), promoting data democracy. Capacity building: Establish mentorship programs connecting established scientists with emerging European-based researchers. In this way, we aim to encourage the development of a new generation of scientists with a representative and diverse mix of abilities, genders, ethnicities, cultural and economic backgrounds, and geographical origins. Community engagement: Acknowledging the diverse contributions made beyond those in academia - universities/ museums/ research institutions - particularly those from local communities and underrepresented groups at all steps of the process from sampling to genome generation and appropriately recognizing their participation. Outreach: Host public science events in biodiversity genomics in diverse geographical locations to spread awareness and foster interest. Ensuring scientific events are organised in a way that is inclusive and accessible, both physically and socially. Social Justice Relevance: Acknowledging that both research and its outcomes could disproportionately affect specific communities within Europe, we commit to responsibly using outreach, engagement, and communication channels to center local communities impacted by biodiversity loss and anthropogenic environmental change, which are directly addressed in the ERGA remit. Personal data sharing: Ensure that data-sharing practices respect the privacy and rights of individuals and communities represented in the data. Ethics: Regularly review external bodies' ethical guidelines to address emerging issues related to social justice in genomics and strive to position ERGA to be as inclusive as possible. Sustainability: Research and implement sustainable laboratory and computational practices to reduce waste and energy consumption; Evaluate the long-term environmental impact of genomic research activities and develop strategies to mitigate negative effects. Conclusion Achieving the broad goals of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in genomic research presents significant challenges. One major hurdle is the intrinsic resource and infrastructure disparities across different European regions. This discrepancy limits access to advanced genomic technologies, computational resources, and skilled personnel. This widens the gap between well-funded institutions in Strengthening countries and less-funded ones in Widening countries. It is also imperative to note that the historical underrepresentation of some groups and species in genomic studies poses ethical and logistical challenges when redressing these imbalances. The complexities of integrating diverse biological samples, especially from Indigenous and marginalised communities, require sensitive, informed consent processes and benefit-sharing arrangements that respect both legal frameworks and ethical considerations. Furthermore, incorporating a wide range of species and their geographical origins into research necessitates a collaborative effort, which geopolitical, financial, and linguistic barriers can hamper. There are as many solutions to these challenges as there are issues themselves. Fostering international collaborations sharing resources, knowledge, and skills is a key strategy for building capacity in underrepresented regions and marginalised groups. Initiatives like cloud-based computational resources, open-source software, and open-access publishing models can democratise access to genomic research tools and findings. Furthermore, engaging local communities in the research process, from planning through to publication, ensures that projects are culturally sensitive and ethically sound, while also facilitating the equitable sharing of benefits. Education and outreach, tailored to diverse audiences, can raise awareness and foster a more inclusive next generation of genomic researchers. Ultimately, the path to achieving Social Justice in genomic research is ongoing and requires a commitment to continuous reflection, adaptation, and action towards these ideals.

assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu < Back SAC - Sequencing and Assembly Committee assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu The Sequencing and Assembly Committee (SAC) fosters collaboration across the ERGA community by coordinating efforts and providing a platform to exchange ideas on genome sequencing and assembly methods. This inclusive framework helps bring together new and affiliated projects under the ERGA umbrella. Working closely with other committees, genome projects, and consortia, SAC promotes and ensures visibility of up-to-date workflows and standardised pipelines, supporting their alignment with Earth Biogenomes Project (EBP) mission and quality requirements while contributing to their development and adaptation. The committee focuses on end-to-end laboratory and analytical practices that deliver high-quality data for ERGA assemblies, including DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing across platforms, as well as bioinformatic procedures for integrating data to generate high-quality genomes. The committee encourages the sharing of standardised SOPs, guidance, and troubleshooting advice. In addition, SAC develops and maintains a framework for assembly evaluation to ensure quality standards are met and complex cases are addressed through community feedback, thereby supporting continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. ( V.2.0 01.12.2025) Chair Tyler Alioto Coordinator Diego de Panis Steering Committee Camila Mazzoni Henrik Lantz Jean-Marc Aury Kerstin Howe Nadège Guiglielmoni Looking for assistance and guidance with how to assemble a genome? The Sequencing and Assembly Committee can help! Join our Slack Channel! Here you can post your questions and start conversations with the Sequencing and Assembly community from the ERGA consortium. Use our resources! Here we have a collection of Genome Assembly Workshops collected and curated by the members of the ERGA SAC. Join our mailing list! Send an email to assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu to join the ERGA Sequencing and Assembly mailing list and get regular updates about the activities of the SAC. Present at our meetings! Send and email to assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu to request a slot to present at a SAC meeting if you would like feedback on your project. We can advise on steps to improve an assembly or potential pipelines that you may find useful. Resources 💡 ERGA Knowledge Hub ▶️ ERGA SAC Youtube Playlist 🔗 Galaxy workflow for de-novo genome assembly using PacBio HiFi and HiC data 🔗 Galaxy workflow for de-novo genome assembly using ONT, Illumina WGS and HiC data ERGA News #41 - September 2026 ERGA Newsletter Starship transposons and a new framework to understand fungal evolution Events ERGA News #40 - August 2026 ERGA Newsletter

itinfra@erga-biodiversity.eu < Back ITIC - IT & Infrastructure Committee itinfra@erga-biodiversity.eu In the IT and Infrastructure committee, we aim to facilitate robust and reproducible science in all steps of creating an ERGA genome. The IT Committee oversees the use of various platforms to keep all other committees up to date, secure and compliant with EU laws and regulations. The IT Committee is central to ensuring that data and metadata are accessible to the public and in line with our Open Access Policies. Our main tasks revolve around providing material for the ERGA community to facilitate the management and publication of (meta)data consistent with the goals of ERGA and the wider Earth BioGenome Project community. Please send us an email if you would like to be involved in our work. (V.2.0 15.05.2025) Coordinators Tom Brown Christian de Guttry Resources 🔗 How-to-guide: Submitting data to ENA Gustafsson, O.J.R., Wilkinson, S.R., Bacall, F., Pireddu, L., Soiland-Reyes, S., Leo, S., Owen, S., Juty, N., Fernández, J.M., Grüning, B. and Brown, T., 2024. WorkflowHub: a registry for computational workflows. arXiv preprint arXiv:2410.06941 . https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2410.06941 ERGA News #41 - September 2026 ERGA Newsletter Starship transposons and a new framework to understand fungal evolution Events ERGA News #40 - August 2026 ERGA Newsletter

Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) The Biodiversity Genomics Europe Project has the overriding aim of accelerating the use of genomic science to enhance understanding of biodiversity, monitor biodiversity change, and guide interventions to address its decline. The BGE Project comprises activities focused on DNA Barcoding (Barcoding Stream) and Reference Genome Generation (Genomes Stream) for eukaryotic species across Europe, bringing together two European networks: iBOL Europe and the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA). The ERGA Stream of BGE The Genomes Stream of BGE, as the European node of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) , aims to establish and implement large-scale biodiversity genomic data generation pipelines to accelerate the production and accessibility of reference-quality, complete genome sequences for species across the whole of European biodiversity. The output will support applications in the fields of: biodiversity characterisation, conservation, and biomonitoring. The Genomes Stream focuses on generating reference-quality genomes from critical European biodiversity, biodiversity hotspots, pollinators, and a selection of applied case studies. BGE-ERGA Stream Work Packages: BGE-ERGA News Connections Booklet: Discovering Biodiversity Genomics From Peaks to Parks: Citizen Scientists Join Bulgaria’s Genomic Quest for Biodiversity Wings, Bees, and Barcodes: Citizen Scientists Support Pollinator Genomics in Cyprus Partner Institutions Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research University of Lausanne University of Florence Cibio Genomescope 6 7 8 600x600logos_hackathon_sponsors_logos2 bge_erga-inst_LOGOS(7) CSIC University of Oslo 14 16 bge_erga-inst_LOGOS(2) bge_erga-inst_LOGOS(3) Sanger Earlham Institute bge_erga-inst_LOGOS(5) bge_erga-inst_LOGOS(6) Discover the whole BGE network