diff --git a/bioconda_utils/cli.py b/bioconda_utils/cli.py
index 48e4128345..440905a0e6 100644
--- a/bioconda_utils/cli.py
+++ b/bioconda_utils/cli.py
@@ -632,6 +632,16 @@ def pypi_check(recipe_folder, config, loglevel='info', packages='*', only_out_of
         print('\t'.join(map(str, result)))
 
 
+@arg('recipe', nargs="+", help='Path to recipes')
+@arg('--loglevel', default='debug', help='Log level')
+def bump_build_number(recipes, loglevel="info"):
+    """
+    Bumps the build number in given recipes.
+    """
+    utils.setup_logger('bioconda_utils', loglevel)
+    utils.bump_build_number(recipes)
+
+
 def main():
     argh.dispatch_commands([
         build, dag, dependent, lint, duplicates,
diff --git a/bioconda_utils/lint_functions.py b/bioconda_utils/lint_functions.py
index fe973d64c1..f0ea912802 100644
--- a/bioconda_utils/lint_functions.py
+++ b/bioconda_utils/lint_functions.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import os
 import re
 
+import yaml
 import pandas
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -93,6 +94,77 @@ def lint_metas(recipe, metas, df, *args, **kwargs):
     return lint_metas
 
 
+JINJA_VAR_DEF = re.compile(r"{%.+?%}")
+JINJA_VAR = re.compile(r"{{.*?}}")
+
+
+def load_plain_yaml(recipe):
+    """Load meta.yaml without applying any jinja templating."""
+    with open(os.path.join(recipe, 'meta.yaml')) as content:
+        def quote_var(match, quotes='"\''):
+            if (content[match.start() - 1] not in quotes and
+                content[match.end()] not in quotes):
+                return '"{}"'.format(match.group())
+            else:
+                return match.group()
+
+        # remove var defs to make yaml happy
+        content = JINJA_VAR_DEF.sub("", content.read())
+        # quote var usages if necessary to make yaml happy
+        content = JINJA_VAR.sub(quote_var, content)
+        # load as plain yaml
+        return yaml.load(content, Loader=yaml.BaseLoader)
+
+
+def _superfluous_jinja_var(recipe, entry):
+    meta = load_plain_yaml(recipe)
+    m = meta
+    xpath = entry.split('/')
+    for p in xpath:
+        try:
+            m = m[p]
+        except KeyError:
+            return
+
+    match = JINJA_VAR.search(m)
+    if match:
+        return {
+            'unwanted_jinja_var': True,
+            'fix': 'replace jinja var {} in entry {} in '
+                   'meta.yaml with a concrete value'.format(match.group(), entry)
+        }
+
+
+def jinja_var_name(recipe, meta, df,):
+    return _superfluous_jinja_var(recipe, 'package/name')
+
+
+def jinja_var_buildnum(recipe, meta, df,):
+    return _superfluous_jinja_var(recipe, 'build/number')
+
+
+def jinja_var_version(recipe, meta, df):
+    return _superfluous_jinja_var(recipe, 'package/version')
+
+
+def jinja_var_checksum(recipe, meta, df):
+    for checksum in ["sha256", "sha1", "md5"]:
+        ret = _superfluous_jinja_var(recipe, 'source/{}'.format(checksum))
+        if ret:
+            return ret
+
+
+def missing_buildnum(recipe, meta, df):
+    meta = load_plain_yaml(recipe)
+    try:
+        meta['build']['number']
+    except KeyError:
+        return {
+            'missing_buildnum': True,
+            'fix': 'add build->number to meta.yaml'
+        }
+
+
 @lint_multiple_metas
 def in_other_channels(recipe, meta, df):
     """
@@ -405,5 +477,10 @@ def compilers_must_be_in_build(recipe, meta, df):
     should_not_use_fn,
     should_use_compilers,
     compilers_must_be_in_build,
+    jinja_var_version,
+    jinja_var_buildnum,
+    jinja_var_name,
+    jinja_var_checksum,
+    missing_buildnum,
     #bioconductor_37,
 )
diff --git a/bioconda_utils/utils.py b/bioconda_utils/utils.py
index c29df26f88..38a4eb998c 100644
--- a/bioconda_utils/utils.py
+++ b/bioconda_utils/utils.py
@@ -1082,6 +1082,42 @@ def modified_recipes(git_range, recipe_folder, config_file):
     return existing
 
 
+def bump_build_numbers(recipes):
+    def bump(recipe):
+        if not recipe.endswith("meta.yaml"):
+            recipe = os.path.join(recipe, "meta.yaml")
+        state = 'general'
+        res = []
+        num = None
+        bumped = None
+        with open(recipe) as content:
+            for line in content:
+                if line.startswith('build'):
+                    state = 'build'
+                elif state == 'build' and line.lstrip().startswith('number:'):
+                    toks = line.split(':')
+                    if toks == 1:
+                        logger.warning("Failed to parse build number of recipe "
+                                       "%s: expected format 'number: value' "
+                                       "violated.", recipe)
+                        return
+                    try:
+                        num = int(toks[1].strip())
+                    except ValueError as e:
+                        logger.warning("Failed to parse build number of "
+                                       "recipe %s: %s", recipe, e)
+                        return
+                    bumped = num + 1
+                    line = '{}: {}\n'.format(toks[0], bumped)
+                res.append(line)
+        with open(recipe, "w") as out:
+            out.writelines(res)
+        logger.info("Bumped build number of recipe {} from {} to {}".format(recipe, num, bumped))
+
+    for recipe in recipes:
+        bump(recipe)
+
+
 class Progress:
     def __init__(self):
         self.thread = Thread(target=self.progress)
diff --git a/docs/source/linting.rst b/docs/source/linting.rst
index 0bc0fdde05..7a02591edf 100644
--- a/docs/source/linting.rst
+++ b/docs/source/linting.rst
@@ -312,6 +312,60 @@ Rational: The compiler tools must not be in ``host:`` or ``run:`` sections.
 How to resolve: Move ``{{ compiler() }}`` variables to the ``build:`` section.
 
 
+`jinja_var_version`
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Reason for the failing: The recipe uses a jinja variable for defining the package version
+
+Rationale: Using a jinja variable for package version is no longer necessary with conda-build 3, because the version can be referenced from all over the ``meta.yaml`` via the jinja expression ``{{ PKG_VERSION }}``.
+
+How to resolve: Directly specify version, in the corresponding entry in the ``meta.yaml``.
+Use the jinja expression ``{{ PKG_VERSION }}`` to refer to the version in other places of the ``meta.yaml``, e.g., in the ``url``.
+
+
+`jinja_var_name`
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Reason for the failing: The recipe uses a jinja variable for package name.
+
+Rationale: For package name, using a jinja variable has no benefit, because it is not supposed to change with updates.
+Therefore, it is better for both human readability and parseability to stick to plain YAML syntax.
+
+How to resolve: Directly specify name in the corresponding entry in the ``meta.yaml``.
+
+`jinja_var_buildnum`
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Reason for the failing: The recipe uses a jinja variable for the build number.
+
+Rationale: For build number, using a jinja variable has no benefit, because, although it changes during updates, it only appears at one place in the ``meta.yaml``.
+Therefore, it is better for both human readability and parseability to stick to plain YAML syntax.
+
+How to resolve: Directly specify build number in the corresponding entry in the ``meta.yaml``.
+
+`jinja_var_checksum`
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Reason for the failing: The recipe uses a jinja variable for the source checksum.
+
+Rationale: For checksum (sha1, sha256, or md5), using a jinja variable has no benefit, because, although it changes during updates, it only appears at one place in the ``meta.yaml``.
+Therefore, it is better for both human readability and parseability to stick to plain YAML syntax.
+
+How to resolve: Directly specify checksum in the corresponding entry in the ``meta.yaml``.
+
+
+`missing_buildnum`
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Reason for the failing: The recipe is missing a build number definition.
+
+Rationale: Build number is crucial for building or updating the package.
+Although conda would infer it automatically, it is for operational reasons beneficial
+always have it explicitly defined in the recipe.
+
+
+
+How to resolve: add ``.
+
+
 ..
     `bioconductor_37`
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/test/test_linting.py b/test/test_linting.py
index 3e95a9fa65..f7fc761a79 100644
--- a/test/test_linting.py
+++ b/test/test_linting.py
@@ -1019,6 +1019,161 @@ def test_should_not_use_fn():
     )
 
 
+def test_jinja_var_name():
+    run_lint(
+        func=lint_functions.jinja_var_name,
+        should_pass=[
+            '''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ],
+        should_fail=[
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  {% set name = "a" %}
+                  package:
+                    name: "{{ name|lower }}"
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  {% set name = "a" %}
+                  package:
+                    name: {{ name }}
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def test_jinja_var_version():
+    run_lint(
+        func=lint_functions.jinja_var_version,
+        should_pass=[
+            '''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ],
+        should_fail=[
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  {% set version = "1.0" %}
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: {{ version }}
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def test_jinja_var_buildnum():
+    run_lint(
+        func=lint_functions.jinja_var_buildnum,
+        should_pass=[
+            '''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ],
+        should_fail=[
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  {% set buildnum = 1 %}
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: {{ buildnum }}
+            ''',
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def test_jinja_var_checksum():
+    run_lint(
+        func=lint_functions.jinja_var_checksum,
+        should_pass=[
+            '''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+                  source:
+                    sha256: abc
+            ''',
+        ],
+        should_fail=[
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  {% set sha256 = "abc" %}
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+                  source:
+                    sha256: {{ sha256 }}
+            ''',
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def test_missing_buildnum():
+    run_lint(
+        func=lint_functions.missing_buildnum,
+        should_pass=[
+            '''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+                  build:
+                    number: 0
+            ''',
+        ],
+        should_fail=[
+            r'''
+            a:
+                meta.yaml: |
+                  package:
+                    name: a
+                    version: 0.1
+            ''',
+        ]
+    )
+
 #def test_bioconductor_37():
 #    run_lint(
 #        func=lint_functions.bioconductor_37,
diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index 8680efc1f8..34a63898fd 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import tarfile
 import logging
 import shutil
+import filecmp
 from textwrap import dedent
 
 from bioconda_utils import utils
@@ -474,6 +475,66 @@ def test_get_channel_packages():
     utils.get_channel_packages('bioconda')
 
 
+def test_bump_build_numbers():
+    r = Recipes(
+        """
+        valid:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: one
+              version: "0.1"
+            build:
+              number: 1
+
+        invalid_jinja:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: two
+              version: "0.1"
+            build:
+              number: {{ CONDA_NCURSES }}
+
+        no_build_num:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: two
+              version: "0.1"
+        """, from_string=True)
+    r.write_recipes()
+
+    expected = Recipes(
+        """
+        valid:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: one
+              version: "0.1"
+            build:
+              number: 2
+
+        invalid_jinja:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: two
+              version: "0.1"
+            build:
+              number: {{ CONDA_NCURSES }}
+
+        no_build_num:
+          meta.yaml: |
+            package:
+              name: two
+              version: "0.1"
+        """, from_string=True)
+    expected.write_recipes()
+
+    utils.bump_build_numbers(r.recipe_dirs.values())
+    get_meta = lambda recipe: os.path.join(recipe, "meta.yaml")
+    for recipe, path in r.recipe_dirs.items():
+        assert filecmp.cmp(get_meta(path),
+                           get_meta(expected.recipe_dirs[recipe]))
+
+
 def test_built_package_paths():
     r = Recipes(
         """