Looking Ahead to 2026: EBP Gaining Momentum
The Earth BioGenome Project was launched with an ambitious goal: to generate reference-quality genomes for all known eukaryotic life on Earth. But ambition alone is not enough. Delivering on this vision requires coordination, trust, sustained investment, ethical engagement, and a deep understanding of the biological and social realities that shape genome sequencing in practice.
In this issue of EBP Life, we invited contributors from across the EBP network to reflect candidly on the questions that most often surface as this global effort continues to grow. These are not easy questions, nor are there single answers. Instead, the perspectives shared here offer insight into how biodiversity genomics is evolving—what it makes possible, where it still struggles, and what it demands of us as a global scientific community.
Taken together, these voices illustrate that genome sequencing is not just about generating data. It is about building shared infrastructure, navigating real-world constraints, engaging responsibly with communities and ecosystems, and investing in the people who make this work possible. We hope this collection offers both clarity and context as we look ahead to the next phase of the Earth BioGenome Project.
🌍 EBP experts answer the tough questions
Explore expert insights by clicking an image or link below.
From Insight to Action: The Road Ahead
As we move into 2026, these perspectives serve as both compass and catalyst—guiding how we scale responsibly, collaborate globally, and ensure that genomic data delivers real-world benefits. The questions will only grow more complex, but so too will our collective capacity to answer them. Continued advances in sequencing technology, cryobanking, artificial intelligence, and data governance are reshaping what’s possible, allowing us to detect vulnerability earlier and respond with precision rather than urgency.
At the same time, regional coordination, equitable access to infrastructure, and sustained support for local expertise will determine how broadly these benefits flow. Genome assemblies are not merely scientific milestones; they are tools for stewardship, early warning, and resilience in a century defined by accelerating environmental change.
With continued coordination, innovation, and investment, the momentum behind biodiversity genomics is poised to accelerate. The coming year promises deeper integration across projects, clearer pathways from data to decision-making, and a growing recognition that the smallest molecular insights can ripple outward—informing conservation strategies, agricultural resilience, and the health of ecosystems worldwide. In that expanding landscape, the voices captured here offer a steady course forward.
Compiled by: Dr. Anna Bramucci (Earth BioGenome Project: Genomic Insights Coordinator)
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to all EBP members and Executive Council members who generously offered to lend their voices to this Q&A issue of EBP Life. Your time, perspective, and willingness to engage with some of the field’s most challenging questions have strengthened this issue in meaningful ways. We would also like to thank the individuals who contributed written responses, proposed new questions, and helped refine the scope of this discussion. Your insights illuminate diverse regional priorities, highlight critical bottlenecks, and underscore the collective ingenuity driving biodiversity genomics forward. Together, your efforts reflect the spirit of collaboration that defines the Earth BioGenome Project and make this community stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the complex work ahead.
