The future of environmental monitoring - eDNA as a powerful new tool

Purpose and goal

The project aim is to connect competencies to develop methods for DNA-based environmental monitoring. The goal after step 3 of the project is that DNA-technology will be a powerful method that will be routinely used for environmental monitoring and environmental impact assessment. In the first step of the project collaborators from academia, companies and governmental agencies six pilot projects to assess how DNA-based methods kan replace or complement current methods. All pilot projects cover aspects of sampling, laboratory analysis and reporting and visualization of results.

Expected results and effects

Step 1 resulted in four finalised projects and plans for six future pilot projects for step 2. Project plans will be used to evaluate how DNA-based methods can replace and supplement current monitoring methods as well as test usability in new ares and establish new automated eDNA methods. During the course of the project, several overlaps between different actors were identified, such as the need for more frequent sampling and shorter time from sampling to analysis results as well as requirements for standardization and quality control to meet current and future legal requirements.

Planned approach and implementation

During step 1, four smaller pilot projects were carried out. The project also consisted of three meetings divided over the topics 1. Sampling, 2. laboratory analysis and 3. data analysis and visualization. Legislation and future technology developments were also discussed as well as the connection to other initiatives in and outside of Sweden. The common theme for all meetings were to design possible pilot projects for step 2 of the project. This work resulted in six concrete project plans with preliminary budgets to be part of step 2.

External links

Projektkoordinatorns hemsida. Här finns även en länk till analysverktyget “sequenceit” som är en del i projektet.