The WHEATBIOME consortium gathered on 12 January 2026 for its 6th Project Meeting and General Assembly, hosted in a hybrid format at NOVA Medical School in Lisbon. This event brought together partners from across Europe to review progress toward the project’s shared goal: unlocking the potential of the wheat microbiome to develop healthier, more sustainable, and resilient wheat-derived food and feed products. The meeting represents an important milestone ensured alignment across scientific, technical, and management activities.
The General Assembly was structured around interdependent Work Packages (WPs) to encourage integrated discussion and effective coordination. Throughout the day, partners presented updates on WP progress, assessed deviations from the original timeline or budget, and identified new risks alongside mitigation strategies. A strong focus is placed on preparing Periodic Report 2 (RP2), including addressing evaluator recommendations from the previous reporting period and collecting information relevant for potential financial amendments. Dedicated sessions also covered ethical considerations, legal assessments of novel foods, and life cycle and cost analyses.
Beyond technical discussions, the meeting fostered collaboration and exchange among a diverse group of academic, research, and industry partners attending both in person and online. A wrap-up session consolidated key conclusions for RP2, while a social dinner in the evening provided an informal opportunity to strengthen consortium relationships. With continued dialogue and coordinated effort, WHEATBIOME’s General Assembly Meeting 6 played a crucial role in steering the project toward impactful scientific and societal outcomes.
