1st Dutch National eDNA Workshop: Report
report
Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their environment—found in water, soil, air, or surfaces—and can be used to detect presence, diversity, and dynamics of species without direct observation or capture. It offers a powerful, non-invasive tool for monitoring and action.
The first Dutch National eDNA Workshop, held on March 5, 2025, marked a milestone in the collective effort to integrate environmental DNA (eDNA) into the country’s biodiversity monitoring and decision-making frameworks. This report consolidates the key insights, perspectives, and outcomes of the workshop, and serves as a launchpad document for the Dutch national eDNA working group. This document includes a collective overview of the perspectives from leading institutes and a synthesis of the two main topic sessions on standardization and national roadmap development, and concludes with actionable next steps. Together, these contributions outline a shared ambition: to create a robust, inclusive, and future-proof eDNA infrastructure that informs national policy, supports global leadership, and fosters long-term collaboration across sectors. The newly established Dutch national eDNA working group will use this report as a launchpad document to coordinate next actions, facilitate continued stakeholder engagement, and secure funding for the Netherlands eDNA Initiative (NEDI). The Dutch National eDNA Workshop 2025 has clearly demonstrated that the Netherlands holds the expertise, motivation, and collaborative capacity to take a leading role in the future of eDNA-based monitoring and decision-making.
The first Dutch National eDNA Workshop, held on March 5, 2025, marked a milestone in the collective effort to integrate environmental DNA (eDNA) into the country’s biodiversity monitoring and decision-making frameworks. This report consolidates the key insights, perspectives, and outcomes of the workshop, and serves as a launchpad document for the Dutch national eDNA working group. This document includes a collective overview of the perspectives from leading institutes and a synthesis of the two main topic sessions on standardization and national roadmap development, and concludes with actionable next steps. Together, these contributions outline a shared ambition: to create a robust, inclusive, and future-proof eDNA infrastructure that informs national policy, supports global leadership, and fosters long-term collaboration across sectors. The newly established Dutch national eDNA working group will use this report as a launchpad document to coordinate next actions, facilitate continued stakeholder engagement, and secure funding for the Netherlands eDNA Initiative (NEDI). The Dutch National eDNA Workshop 2025 has clearly demonstrated that the Netherlands holds the expertise, motivation, and collaborative capacity to take a leading role in the future of eDNA-based monitoring and decision-making.
TNO Identifier
1015063
Publisher
TNO
Collation
16 p.
Place of publication
Utrecht