In February 2025, HelEx held a series of seminars with breeding companies Soltis, RAGT and Lidea on Work Package 1.3, dedicated to the genetic approach of the project. These companies are central actors of the European sunflower seed industry, and their involvement is essential for HelEx to translate science into varieties.
Nicolas Langlade (INRAE) led the discussions, presenting how HelEx uses wild Helianthus diversity, genomic prediction and targeted phenotyping to identify genetic variation of interest for breeding. The seminars allowed for detailed, technical feedback on priorities, experimental designs and data sharing.
For HelEx, directly engaging with leading breeders on Work Package 1.3 is a way to ensure that the project’s genetic work is both scientifically ambitious and operationally relevant. The outcomes of these discussions directly shape how the consortium prioritises its efforts on sunflower improvement.
