WP7 - Effect of, and interaction between, crop genotypes and management innovations on crop nutritional, organoleptic and end-use quality

Both genetic and agronomic factors may affect the nutritional and organoleptic quality of crops grown under low-input and organic conditions.

The main aim of WP7 is therefore to quantify the effect of breeding and agronomic innovations developed under WP3-6 on crop quality. As a result many WP7 activities are dependent on the timely supply of samples from a range of field trials under WP3 to WP6. Also, the quality analyses carried out under WP7 are important deliverables for partners involved in the breeding focused WP3, WP5, WP6 (e.g. additional phenotypic data that allow the effect of selection for adaptation traits on product quality to be evaluated) and development of crop management strategies under WP4 (e.g. data allowing the impact of cover crops, intercropping or cultural practices on crop quality to be quantified).

The main management challenge under WP7 is therefore to organise (a) the timely delivery of crop samples from trials under WP3-6 to laboratories carrying out analyses under WP7 and (b) feed back of crop quality data from WP7 to the WP3-6 teams.