Computomics: Discussions On Innovations To Drive Advanced Agriculture Solutions

Chris Kubica, Technical Account Manager at Computomics, discusses the importance of pangenomes for modern plant breeding. He explains that traditional genomics relies on a single reference genome, which cannot capture the full genetic diversity of a species. This is a big problem in complex plant genomes, where major parts of breeding-line diversity can be absent from the standard reference. A pangenome combines multiple assemblies to represent more of a species’ variation and to unlock hard-to-find trait signals. Chris introduces Pantograph, Computomics’ “omics browser”, which allows users to visualize and explore structural variation and integrate diverse omics data such as gene expression and variant information. Hear about current and planned capabilities in this informative and enjoyable episode!
 More:
Pantograph website
Chris Kubica on LinkedIn

This episode of the Computomics Podcast features Vanessa Prigge, potato breeder and R[&]D project manager at Saka Pflanzenzucht (Solana Group). She discusses her international research background, the unique challenges of potato breeding - such as vegetative propagation, complex genetics, and long breeding cycles - and the need for compromise-driven selection. Vanessa highlights two major projects: IPMorama, which promotes integrated pest management through resistant varieties, monitoring, and stakeholder collaboration, and POMORROW, which unlocks potato gene bank diversity for future-proof breeding. Together, these efforts aim to make potato breeding more sustainable, collaborative, and future-ready..
More information:
Solana Main Page
IPMorama Project Website
POMORROW project (German language)
Vanessa on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, Vonnie Estes, VP of Innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), shares insights on the challenges the produce industry faces, particularly around climate change, pest management, and cold chain logistics. She discusses the importance of AI and machine learning in enhancing supply chain efficiency and food safety. Vonnie also highlights IFPA’s initiatives, such as "Supply Chain of the Future" and efforts to reduce single-use plastic in packaging. A grant program supports innovation in the produce sector, offering funding opportunities for startups in developing solutions to industry problems.
More:
Vonnie Estes on LinkedIn
International Fresh Produce Organization (IFPA)
The Fresh Supply Chain of the Future
Fresh Takes on Tech podcast

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, Pernille Ollendorff Hede, CEO and co-founder of Healthycrop, discusses the company's innovative approach to fungal-resistant crops. Healthycrop boosts the production of Nepenthesin, a naturally occurring enzyme in plants, to degrade fungal enzymes, preventing fungal growth without the need for fungicides. Using cis-genesis and gene editing techniques, Healthycrop enhances the plant's natural defense. While these techniques are classified as genetically modified (GM) in Europe, they are considered non-GM in the U.S. Pernille shares the company's mission to revolutionize agriculture by offering sustainable solutions and hopes for regulatory changes in Europe to facilitate broader adoption.

More:
Healthycrop - Homepage
Pernille Ollendorff Hede on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, bioinformatics analyst Michelle Hagen describes how her work bridges biology and data science. As a data analyst in bioinformatics and plant breeding, Michelle transforms raw genetic and environmental data into insights that guide breeding decisions. She particularly enjoys the teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity involved in her job.
Michelle works on Computomics’ Climate-Smart Breeding technology xSeedScore and the Metagenomics Analysis Platform MORPHEUS. Her main tasks involve performing data quality control, running bioinformatics pipelines, and creating interactive dashboards for customers. Her work supports the development of climate-resilient, high-yield crops, and it helps breeders make data-driven breeding faster and more precise.