1. Biodiversity genomics for conservation, biodiversity footprints
Biodiversity genomics is a powerful tool for nature conservation, offering precise genetic insights into species and their populations. It reveals genetic diversity and how species adapt to environmental changes, providing crucial data to mitigate the negative impacts of human activities on biodiversity. This knowledge helps reduce our biodiversity footprint by guiding more informed decisions. Genomics also produces the necessary genomes for species identification in biomonitoring, enabling the use of advanced techniques like environmental DNA to assess ecosystem health and track entire species communities. By delivering comprehensive, data-driven monitoring at both species and ecosystem levels, genomics equips policymakers to implement more effective, science-based conservation strategies.

2. Biodiversity genomics for food security, public health and natural resources
Biodiversity genomics is a game-changer for the food and health industries, offering cutting-edge solutions to enhance food security, improve public health, and unlock valuable natural resources. By decoding genetic diversity in crops, livestock, and their wild relatives, genomics enables the development of resilient, high-yield varieties that can withstand pests, diseases, and environmental challenges like drought and temperature shifts. In public health, it provides critical insights into the genomes of disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, allowing for more precise monitoring and control strategies to curb the spread of diseases. Furthermore, biodiversity genomics identifies genes responsible for producing high-value compounds, such as new medicines and industrial enzymes, driving innovation in biopharmaceuticals and sustainable agriculture. By harnessing the power of genomics, industry partners can accelerate the discovery of natural products, improve supply chain resilience, and lead advancements in health and agriculture.

3. Biodiversity genomics for adaptation and resilience in face of anthropogenic global change
Focused for environmental managers and governmental partners: Biodiversity genomics plays a crucial role in fostering adaptation and resilience to anthropogenic global change by revealing the genetic mechanisms that help species adjust to rapidly shifting environments. By studying the (holo)genomes of organisms thriving under extreme or changing conditions, scientists can pinpoint genes responsible for stress tolerance, disease resistance, and climate adaptability in response to threats like rising temperatures, altered precipitation, and pollution. These insights can be used, through techniques like CRISPR, to enhance these adaptive traits in keystone species, bolstering ecosystem stability. Genome sequencing of endangered species enables the creation of “digital arks,” preserving genetic diversity that may otherwise be lost, and providing essential resources for future genetic rescue efforts. Biodiversity genomics even supports the potential de-extinction of species by reintroducing key traits into living relatives through gene editing.