The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics
Authors: Mc Cartney Ann M. , Formenti Giulio , Mouton Alice , De Panis Diego , Marins Luísa S. , Leitão Henrique G. , Diedericks Genevieve , Kirangwa Joseph , Morselli Marco , Salces-Ortiz Judit , Escudero Nuria , Iannucci Alessio , Natali Chiara , Svardal Hannes , Fernández Rosa , De Pooter Tim , Joris Geert , Strazisar Mojca , Wood Jonathan M. D. , Herron Katie E. , Seehausen Ole , Watts Phillip C. , Shaw Felix , Davey Robert P. , Minotto Alice , Fernández José M. , Böhne Astrid , Alegria Carla , Alioto Tyler , Alves Paulo C. , Amorim Isabel R. , Aury Jean-Marc , Backstrom Niclas , Baldrian Petr , Baltrunaite Laima , Barta Endre , BedHom Bertrand , Belser Caroline , Bergsten Johannes , Bertrand Laurie , Bilandija Helena , Binzer-Panchal Mahesh , Bista Iliana , Blaxter Mark , Borges Paulo A. V. , Dias Guilherme Borges , Bosse Mirte , Brown Tom , Bruggmann Rémy , Buena-Atienza Elena , Burgin Josephine , Buzan Elena , Cariani Alessia , Casadei Nicolas , Chiara Matteo , Chozas Sergio , Čiampor Fedor , Crottini Angelica , Cruaud Corinne , Cruz Fernando , Dalen Love , De Biase Alessio , del Campo Javier , Delic Teo , Dennis Alice B. , Derks Martijn F. L. , Diroma Maria Angela , Djan Mihajla , Duprat Simone , Eleftheriadi Klara , Feulner Philine G. D. , Flot Jean-François , Forni Giobbe , Fosso Bruno , Fournier Pascal , Fournier-Chambrillon Christine , Gabaldon Toni , Garg Shilpa , Gissi Carmela , Giupponi Luca , Gomez-Garrido Jessica , González Josefa , Grilo Miguel L. , Grüning Björn , Guerin Thomas , Guiglielmoni Nadege , Gut Marta , Haesler Marcel P. , Hahn Christoph , Halpern Balint , Harrison Peter W. , Heintz Julia , Hindrikson Maris , Höglund Jacob , Howe Kerstin , Hughes Graham M. , Istace Benjamin , Cock Mark J. , Janžekovič Franc , Jonsson Zophonias O. , Joye-Dind Sagane , Koskimäki Janne J. , Krystufek Boris , Kubacka Justyna , Kuhl Heiner , Kusza Szilvia , Labadie Karine , Lähteenaro Meri , Lantz Henrik , Lavrinienko Anton , Leclère Lucas , Lopes Ricardo Jorge , Madsen Ole , Magdelenat Ghislaine , Magoga Giulia , Manousaki Tereza , Mappes Tapio , Marques Joao Pedro , Redondo Gemma I. Martinez , Maumus Florian , McCarthy Shane A. , Megens Hendrik-Jan , Melo-Ferreira Jose , Mendes Sofia L. , Montagna Matteo , Moreno Joao , Mosbech Mai-Britt , Moura Mónica , Musilova Zuzana , Myers Eugene , Nash Will J. , Nater Alexander , Nicholson Pamela , Niell Manuel , Nijland Reindert , Noel Benjamin , Noren Karin , Oliveira Pedro H. , Olsen Remi-Andre , Ometto Lino , Oomen Rebekah A. , Ossowski Stephan , Palinauskas Vaidas , Palsson Snaebjorn , Panibe Jerome P. , Pauperio Joana , Pavlek Martina , Payen Emilie , Pawlowska Julia , Pellicer Jaume , Pesole Graziano , Pimenta Joao , Pippel Martin , Pirttilä Anna Maria , Poulakakis Nikos , Rajan Jeena , M.C. Rego Rúben , Resendes Roberto , Resl Philipp , Riesgo Ana , Rodin-Morch Patrik , Soares Andre E. R. , Fernandes Carlos Rodriguez , Romeiras Maria M. , Roxo Guilherme , Rüber Lukas , Ruiz-Lopez Maria Jose , Saarma Urmas , da Silva Luis P. , Sim-Sim Manuela , Soler Lucile , Sousa Vitor C. , Santos Carla Sousa , Spada Alberto , Stefanovic Milomir , Steger Viktor , Stiller Josefin , Stöck Matthias , Struck Torsten H. , Sudasinghe Hiranya , Tapanainen Riikka , Tellgren-Roth Christian , Trindade Helena , Tukalenko Yevhen , Urso Ilenia , Vacherie Benoit , Van Belleghem Steven M. , Van Oers Kees , Vargas-Chavez Carlos , Velickovic Nevena , Vella Noel , Vella Adriana , Vernesi Cristiano , Vicente Sara , Villa Sara , Pettersson Olga Vinnere , Volckaert Filip A. M. , Voros Judit , Wincker Patrick , Winkler Sylke , Ciofi Claudio , Waterhouse Robert M. , Mazzoni Camila J. 
Published: September 2024

A genomic database of all Earth’s eukaryotic species could contribute to many scientific discoveries; however, only a tiny fraction of species have genomic information available. In 2018, scientists across the world united under the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), aiming to produce a database of high-quality reference genomes containing all ~1.5 million recognized eukaryotic species. As the European node of the EBP, the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) sought to implement a new decentralised, equitable and inclusive model for producing reference genomes. For this, ERGA launched a Pilot Project establishing the first distributed reference genome production infrastructure and testing it on 98 eukaryotic species from 33 European countries. Here we outline the infrastructure and explore its effectiveness for scaling high-quality reference genome production, whilst considering equity and inclusion. The outcomes and lessons learned provide a solid foundation for ERGA while offering key learnings to other transnational, national genomic resource projects and the EBP.