The four-year BIOCRAFT project will focus on improving potato and rice varieties through artificial intelligence, biotechnology and soil microbiome research, while exploring new opportunities for plant-based biomanufacturing.
A new European research project will combine artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and crop science to develop more resilient potato and rice varieties capable of withstanding increasing environmental pressures.
The BIOCRAFT project, officially launching in October 2026, will bring together research institutions, technology providers and agricultural stakeholders from four EU member states. The four-year initiative aims to improve crop resilience, productivity and nutritional value while advancing sustainable plant-based biomanufacturing technologies.
Funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, BIOCRAFT (Crafting System Resilience – from a Holistic Biotech Approach to Smart Crops and Efficient Biomanufacturing) has received €3.81 million under the European Innovation Council’s EIC Pathfinder programme.
The project will address growing challenges facing European agriculture, including drought, extreme heat, soil degradation, salinity and crop diseases. Researchers will investigate how emerging technologies can strengthen crop performance while improving the efficiency of natural resource use.
Developing More Resilient Potato and Rice Varieties
Coordinated by Fraunhofer IME in Germany, BIOCRAFT will develop and validate potato and rice varieties with improved tolerance to environmental and biological stresses, according to a press release from KPMG.
Over 48 months, researchers will integrate advanced biotechnology, AI-driven approaches, crop monitoring technologies and soil microbiome research to identify opportunities to improve crop performance and agricultural sustainability.
The research will focus on enhancing crop resilience under increasingly unpredictable growing conditions while maintaining productivity and improving nutritional value.
“Climate change is creating urgent challenges for agricultural production and food security across Europe.
“Through BIOCRAFT, we are developing innovative solutions that will help crops better withstand environmental stresses while opening new opportunities for sustainable biomanufacturing,” said Prof. Stefan Schillberg, project coordinator at Fraunhofer IME.
Exploring Crops as Sustainable Biofactories
Beyond developing climate-resilient varieties, BIOCRAFT will investigate the potential of crops as biological production platforms for high-value biomolecules.
The project will explore plant-based biomanufacturing approaches that could create new opportunities for Europe’s biotechnology sector and reduce reliance on conventional manufacturing processes.
By combining crop improvement with biotechnology applications, researchers aim to demonstrate how agricultural plants can contribute to both food production and the development of a more sustainable bioeconomy.
European Consortium Brings Together Research and Industry
The BIOCRAFT consortium includes organisations from Germany, Portugal, Spain and Italy, bringing together expertise in biotechnology, agricultural research, technology development and industry applications.
Led by Fraunhofer IME, the consortium includes KPMG Portugal, SGS Portugal, IRIS Technology Solutions and Agrotecnio in Spain, SA.PI.SE. Società Agricola in Italy, ADV Arròs de Pals in Spain and the Public University of Navarra in Spain.
German seed company KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA will participate as an associated partner.
The partnership is intended to connect scientific research with agricultural applications, supporting the development and validation of technologies that could eventually benefit European growers and the wider seed sector.
Addressing Regulation and Future Adoption
In addition to its scientific objectives, BIOCRAFT will examine the regulatory, environmental and societal considerations associated with next-generation crop technologies.
This work will help inform the responsible development and potential future adoption of innovations emerging from the project.
By combining crop improvement, digital technologies and biomanufacturing, BIOCRAFT aims to contribute to Europe’s long-term food security objectives while supporting the sustainability and competitiveness of its agricultural and biotechnology sectors.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101307230.
