Beijing Launches PLANeT Project: A Global Initiative to Map the Genetic Ancestry of Land Plants

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the scientific community gathered in Beijing for the official inauguration of the PLANeT project. This ambitious scientific endeavor represents a collaborative effort between Chinese researchers and more than 40 international research institutions. In terms of its sheer scale and potential impact, the initiative is being compared to the landmark Human Genome Project that commenced in 1990. The primary objective of PLANeT is to fully decode the genetic blueprints of essential land plant groups, ultimately constructing a definitive and exhaustive "tree of life" for the world's flora.

This initiative seeks to address a massive void in current biological understanding. At present, high-quality reference genomes are unavailable for more than 99% of the approximately 450,000 known species of land plants. This lack of data has long hindered scientists' ability to trace evolutionary paths with precision. Leading the coordination of this massive undertaking are the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (AGIS), part of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and Peking University. The project has successfully recruited partners from 15 different countries and regions to ensure a truly global perspective.

Under the guidance of Chief Investigator Wang Li, the research team will implement a systematic approach to sampling plant orders and families that have historically been underrepresented in genomic studies. To resolve complex evolutionary relationships, the team will utilize sophisticated phylogenetic techniques. These methods rely on various molecular markers, including chloroplast, nuclear, and mitochondrial genomes. AGIS, which was established in 2014, provides the necessary infrastructure for such a task, boasting a genomic sequencing center capable of generating 2.5 terabytes of data weekly and a computing center with a processing power of 35 trillion operations per second.

A defining characteristic of the 2026 PLANeT launch is its heavy reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) to manage and interpret the staggering volume of genomic information. Specialized AI algorithms are being trained to identify conserved DNA sequences and complex regulatory logic, facilitating the analysis of tens of thousands of individual genomes. Scientists involved in the project anticipate that this data processing will not only clarify evolutionary lineages but also lead to the discovery of 1,000 bioactive natural compounds and approximately 100 potential new crops with significant economic value.

The implications of this research extend far beyond academic curiosity, touching on critical issues of global food security and the preservation of biodiversity. PLANeT is specifically designed to inform the development of "future crops" that possess enhanced resistance to drought and disease—traits that are increasingly vital in the face of a changing global climate. Furthermore, the resulting genomic database will provide a robust scientific foundation for the rapid identification of genetically vulnerable and endangered species, thereby supporting the creation of more effective environmental protection policies.

When viewed within the broader landscape of global efforts to catalog life on Earth, such as the proposed Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), PLANeT distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on the critical domain of land plants. The fusion of traditional phylogenetic methods with high-throughput sequencing marks the dawn of the phylogenomics era, allowing for the reconstruction of evolutionary trees with unprecedented accuracy. Much like the Human Genome Project, which reached its conclusion in 2003, the ultimate success of PLANeT will hinge on international synergy and technological innovation, expanding the framework for large-scale biological collaboration across the entire plant kingdom.

By integrating cutting-edge technology with international expertise, the PLANeT project aims to revolutionize our understanding of botanical history. This initiative represents a significant leap forward in biological sciences, promising to unlock secrets held within plant DNA for millions of years. As the project progresses, the data shared among the 15 participating regions will likely serve as a cornerstone for agricultural and ecological research for decades to come.