On February 21, Genoplante, the French plant genomics laboratory network, and the German counterpart Genomanalyse im Biologischen System Pflanze (GABI) will announce a collaborative effort to develop research projects in plant functional genomics and proteomics. The aim of the joint effort is to eliminate redundant research and consolidate brainpower, thereby strengthening Europe's position in the field. “As far as plant genomics research is concerned, it is only possible to be competitive with the US at the European level,” says Michel Caboche, director of Genoplante. The Genoplante–GABI initiative will be co-funded by Genoplante [FF5 million ($0.72 million)] and GABI [DM5 million ($2.40 million)], beginning with a plant genomics database that will be made publicly available this summer. Thomas Altman, GABI project coordinator, says the effort could receive further funding in 2003 from the European Union Framework VI program, which is expected to encompass agricultural genomics.