CENTRE DE RECERCA EN AGRIGENOMICA CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB

Their core work

CRAG is a joint research center in Barcelona backed by four major Spanish institutions (CSIC, IRTA, UAB, UB), focused on plant genomics and agricultural biotechnology. They investigate the molecular mechanisms behind plant stress tolerance, crop development, and disease resistance — from Arabidopsis model systems to commercially important crops like potato, melon, rice, and tomato. Their work spans gene editing (CRISPR), epigenetics, transcriptomics, and phenotyping, translating fundamental plant biology discoveries into tools for crop improvement. They also serve as a training hub, running postdoctoral programs in agricultural genomics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, CRAG's H2020 portfolio mixed fundamental plant biology (SUMOblock, melon virology, drought signaling in Arabidopsis) with participation in applied livestock feed efficiency research (Feed-a-Gene). From 2019 onward, the center shifted decisively toward applied crop improvement — potato development and stress tolerance, plant variety testing methodologies, and viral disease management in commercially important vegetables like tomatoes and cucurbits. The recent period also shows a growing investment in training infrastructure (AGenT) and translational tools like phenotyping, genetic markers, and modelling, signaling a move from pure discovery toward enabling practical breeding outcomes.

CRAG is transitioning from a discovery-oriented plant science lab toward a translational center that connects genomic insights to practical crop breeding, variety testing, and disease resistance — making them increasingly relevant for agri-food industry partnerships.

How they like to work

CRAG overwhelmingly leads its projects: 11 of 16 H2020 projects were coordinated, mostly Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowships and an ERC Proof of Concept grant, reflecting a center that attracts international researchers rather than one that joins large consortia. When they do participate (NEURICE, ADAPT, VIRTIGATION) or serve as third party (Feed-a-Gene, INVITE), it is in larger applied research consortia where they contribute specialized genomics expertise. With 99 unique partners across 21 countries, they have a broad European network but their coordination pattern suggests they function best as an independent scientific authority rather than a consortium management hub.

CRAG has collaborated with 99 unique partners across 21 countries, giving them a wide European network. Their partnerships span both research institutions (through MSCA fellowships attracting international postdocs) and applied agriculture consortia across Mediterranean and Northern European countries.

What sets them apart

CRAG sits at the intersection of four major Spanish research institutions (CSIC, IRTA, UAB, UB), giving it unique access to both fundamental science capacity and Spain's agricultural research infrastructure. Their combination of deep molecular biology expertise with increasingly applied crop work — from CRISPR gene editing in melon to stress-tolerant potato development — positions them as a bridge between academic plant science and practical breeding. For consortium builders, CRAG brings credible genomics and transcriptomics capabilities that can be applied to virtually any Mediterranean or temperate crop challenge.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IDRICA
  Their largest project (EUR 2M ERC Proof of Concept), coordinated by CRAG, tackling drought resistance across crops and Arabidopsis — a direct response to climate-driven water scarcity in agriculture.
• AGenT
  EUR 1.47M MSCA program establishing a transversal postdoctoral training pipeline in agricultural genomics, signaling CRAG's ambition to become a European training hub in the field.
• VIRTIGATION
  Addresses emerging tobamovirus and begomovirus threats to tomato and cucurbit production with a practical toolkit approach: diagnostics, biopesticides, natural resistance, and biocontrol via parasitoids.