Fifth EpiSeedLink Newsletter
EpiSeedLink Newsletter 5 is here¡
We’re excited to share with you our 5th EpiSeedLink Newsletter, full of updates and memorable moments from the Second Annual Meeting held this June in Galway, Ireland.
From proposal writing and research presentations to podcast recordings and scenic excursions, our fellows and consortium members had a packed and productive week.
You’ll find: Highlights from the Annual Meeting
❇️A peek into the Proposal Writing course
❇️Details about our new podcast series starting this month
❇️Fellows’ research progress and business plan presentations
❇️And of course, some great memories from our excursion to the Cliffs of Moher!
Don´t miss it¡ Click here to read it.
We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Check it out and stay tuned for more updates from the EpiSeedLink project!
If you want to receive the EpiSeedLink Newsletter, please send a message to episeedlink@cnb.csic.es.
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EpiSeedLink Seed Germination Kit
EpiSeedLink Seed Germination Kit – Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists!
EpiSeedLink Fellows have developed a Seed Germination Kit as part of the Public Engagement training delivered by Cell EXPLORERS. Moreover, Dr. Sara Farrona, an EpiSeedLink supervisor, has guided and supported them throughout the process.
On June 27th, 2025, some of the EpiSeedlink members (Dr. Ulf Feuerstein and Kingsley Onyinye Ibeabuchi), who belonged to Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV) in Asendorf (Germany), had the pleasure of welcoming around 32 enthusiastic 10–11-year-old students for an EpiSeedLink Seed Germination kit demonstration. The event was a fantastic opportunity to introduce young minds to plant science in a hands-on and engaging way.
The sessions were held in German, and we were very grateful to have Dr. Ulf Feuerstein (EpiSeedLink supervisor) supporting with translations from English, as well as Katharina, who is currently doing her master’s thesis at DSV, helping to guide the children through the content in German.
The highlight? The children were fascinated by the visible effects of salt stress and seed priming, demonstrated using carefully prepared sample plates. Even more exciting: each child prepared their own plates to take home, so they could continue observing and measuring changes themselves!
They ran three 45-minute sessions with small groups (10–12 kids each). After a tight first round, the format was adjusted for smoother flow in the later sessions. While some concepts, especially data analysis and seed priming, were a bit complex for this age group, the curiosity and excitement from the children made it all worthwhile.
A big thank you to everyone who made this outreach activity possible! ✨
Let’s keep sparking scientific curiosity, one seed at a time.
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Fourth EpiSeedLink Newsletter
The fourth edition of our newsletter is here!
We share our goals as researchers in the EpiSeedLink program and give you a glimpse into PhD life. You’ll also find updates on events, including an exclusive preview of a conference we are organizing.
Don´t miss it¡ Click this link to read it.
If you want to receive the EpiSeedLink Newsletter, please send a message to episeedlink@cnb.csic.es.
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Third EpiSeedLink Newsletter
If you want to receive the EpiSeedLink Newsletter, please send a message to episeedlink@cnb.csic.es.
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Second EpiSeedLink Newsletter
The second edition of the @episeedlink newsletter is here! ✨
Take a behind-the-scenes look at our journey, from dynamic meetings and hands-on training to exciting outreach across Europe!
Discover what we have been up to in the first 18 months of this EU-funded plant epigenetics adventure. Don’t miss it!
If you want to receive the EpiSeedLink Newsletter, please send a message to episeedlink@cnb.csic.es.
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First EpiSeedLink Newsletter
Welcome to the very first edition of the EpiSeedLink newsletter!
Get to know the consortium behind this exciting journey in plant epigenetics research.
Funded by the EU through the MSCA Doctoral Network, this project is sowing the seeds for future discoveries.
If you want to receive the EpiSeedLink Newsletter, please send a message to episeedlink@cnb.csic.es.
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New genomic techniques in the European Union
NGTs in the EU : A Significant Progress, but the Discussion Is Not Over Yet.
✅The legislative proposal on plants obtained through new genomic techniques (NGTs) has progressed, with EU Member States’ deputy ambassadors endorsing the Council's negotiating mandate on March 14.
✅This advancement allows the proposal to enter its final stage, where the Council will engage in trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament to finalize the regulation's text. Once a common version is agreed upon, both institutions will vote separately, and if approved, implementation will take an additional two years.
However, scrutiny and advocacy remain crucial during this phase.
▶️ A key issue in the negotiations is the European Parliament’s demand for a total ban on patenting new NGT-derived plants to prevent monopolies, while the Council supports patenting.
▶️ Additionally, there is a disagreement on labeling and traceability, with the Parliament advocating for mandatory labeling of NGT products, whereas the Council suggests no special labeling is needed for products developed using modern genetic engineering techniques.
✳️ It is vital for policymakers and stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue to develop a regulatory framework that fosters innovation and supports a sustainable agricultural sector in Europe.
✳️ The need for science-based policies to address climate change is urgent, and farmers require access to tools that enhance productivity and protect biodiversity.
✳️ Continued advocacy for plant breeding innovation is essential, and stakeholders are encouraged to get involved.
Abiotic Stresses: Plant water-relations
This lecture will illustrate the How plants manage water deficit and why it matters specially focused on the hormonal response to abiotic stress.
It is part of the training of doctoral students from the EpiSeedLink consortium.
Fellows will learn among other topics about:
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- Plant responses to water deficit affect many processes
- Tools to improve plant tolerance to drought
- Breeding aproaches for drought tolerant plants
- Molecular genetic engineering approaches for manipulation of ABA signaling
- Molecular breeding approaches for manipulation of ABA signaling
The conference is given by Dr. Vicente Rubio, one of the EpiSeedLink Supervisors, and the Coordinator of EpiSeedLink, belonging to Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), research center from CSIC (Spain).
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1st EpiSeedLink Annual Meeting in Paris: Video produced by the fellows
Our PhD students have been training as part of the MSCA training program to develop impactful videos for dissemination and public engagement.
As a result, they created this exciting video during the EpiSeedLink Annual Meeting in Paris! ✨ You can watch here
What’s EpiSeedLink all about?
EpiSeedLink is a cutting-edge Research Consortium funded by the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network Programme. It’s a thriving community of passionate scientists from around the world, where academia and industry collaborate, and experienced experts mentor early-stage researchers.
Together, we share knowledge and creativity to drive a common mission: improving crops through epigenetics and priming.
Don't miss the video—see the EpiSeedLink spirit in action!
This video was produced entirely by EpiSeedLink fellows, (cast, script, equipment list, shot list, sounds, recordings, lights, footage, clips selection, music selection, and post production).
A special thanks to Dr. Sara Farrona and Mr. Niall Flaherty from the University of Galway that supported this work and to the College of Science and Engineering (University of Galway) for providing equipment to record this video.
Fellows Networking Through Secondments
The @episeedlink PhD students, as part of their training, carry out secondments at the facilities of other consortium members, fostering strong bonds and collaborations. They serve as the starting point for new partnerships in their future professional careers.
Below a diagram showcases the collaborations and interrelationships among MSCA @episeedlink fellows during their secondments at the beneficiaries' facilities in the first 24 months.
