DNABARDIV is the new COST Action that will enable the European DNA Barcoding community to integrate existing national efforts, fill critical gaps in barcode reference libraries, and build standardised protocols aligned with FAIR/CARE principles.
The Action CA25120 – Advancing DNA BARcoding in Europe for Efficient, Sustainable and Inclusive BioDIVersity Monitoring (DNABARDIV) will deliver open-access resources, including curated data platforms, sampling and sequencing protocols, training materials, and policy guidance. Dedicated activities – training schools, short-term scientific missions, and regional coordination nodes – will empower early-career researchers and strengthen capacity, particularly in underrepresented regions.
The idea of a COST Action for the DNA barcoding community in Europe has been in iBOL Europe’s plans for a few years, and the process of submitting a proposal officially started in June 2025 at the Workshop we held at the University of Lodz and continued throughout the summer, with community members from all over the region meeting regularly, with Emre Keskin (Ankara University, TR) chairing the process. The resulting proposal is built along the iBOL Europe strategic priorities, which were also identified at the Workshop in Lodz, with one Action Working Group per strategic priority: Community Building, Sample Collection & Taxonomic Verification, Sequencing Infrastructure, Data Management and Applications.
For us, iBOL Europe, the COST Action is a natural continuation of the community’s work on building reference libraries and on advancing the network across Europe.
The Action will offer opportunities for training, knowledge sharing, and engaging working groups, including countries and groups that would otherwise have fewer opportunities to participate.
The Action will offer opportunities for training, knowledge sharing, and engaging working groups, including countries and groups that would otherwise have fewer opportunities to participate.
