Wageningen Plant Research

👩🔬 Come work with us! At Wageningen University & Research, you work on improving the quality of life. That is our mission and that is what we stand for 💚 We are constantly looking for talented colleagues who want to contribute with their expertise. Currently we have the following vacancies (and more on our website): 💁♂️ Policy Advisor on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) 👉 https://lnkd.in/euXmQBXs 🌱 Technical Assistant gene bank 👉 https://lnkd.in/exd8bG9p 💻 Research engineer on AI for Ecological Digital Twins 👉 https://lnkd.in/eybQC9nD 🎓 Several PhD positions 👉 https://lnkd.in/ew8tEjpM Check the vacancies and apply through the website! Nothing for you? 🚨 You can always set a job alert, so you will be notified when there are relevant vacancies! 👉 https://lnkd.in/ew8tEjpM #vacancy #plantresearch #plantsciences #jobopening

When would you call an agricultural practice sustainable? 🤔 Currently, there is no clear framework to measure this, which poses a risk of greenwashing. That is why researchers, led by Wageningen University & Research, are advocating a new framework to measure sustainability in agriculture 🚜 This new approach takes the specific circumstances of an agricultural business into account. For example, different criteria apply to a dairy farm than to an arable farm. Soil type, such as clay or sand, and climate - dry or wet - are also taken into account, as these factors influence sustainability ☀ The new system should exercise caution regarding the current focus on practices as indicators, researchers say. After all, adopting a specific practice does not necessarily guarantee the desired outcome. But it should also not solely focus on the outcome, because outcomes such as increased carbon storage or improved biodiversity can take years to become apparent 🐝 Therefore, the researchers advocate for linking different indicators in sustainability frameworks. This will help to establish whether farmers are actually achieving their sustainability results. The researchers have conducted several practical trials in Spain, Finland, and France 🌍 These tests demonstrate that such a framework can assist farmers, policymakers, and businesses to monitor sustainability in a context-specific and transparent manner. "Such a new model not only provides a concrete tool to make the level of sustainability more transparent, but also ensures that efforts can be rewarded more quickly," conclude the researchers 👏 Research by Loekie Schreefel, Rachel Creamer, Hannah van Zanten, Evelien de Olde, Kari Koppelmäki, Mariana Debernardini, Imke de Boer and Rogier Schulte. #sustainability #biodiversity #agriculture #farmingsystems

🚨 Challenging greenhouse climates, increasing work pressure and more physically demanding work have made greenhouse horticulture less appealing as a working environment. How can greenhouse employees work comfortably and safely? That is what Anouk Leunissen and her colleagues are researching in the Joyride Horticulture project: “Technical developments in the greenhouse are good and certainly necessary. However, it is important to ensure that we do not forget the welfare of greenhouse employees.” Researchers started by looking at the greenhouse climate 🌡 High temperatures, high humidity and high radiation intensities create an uncomfortable working environment. So an experiment to test cooling vests that employees can wear was launched, of which the data is currently being analysed. Leunissen: “We can already say that although cooling vests are perceived as cooler, there are issues in terms of how long the cooling vest stays cool. That is one to two hours and condensation forms on the vest, which is experienced as unpleasant." 💧 That is why researchers are also looking into other solutions, such as a portable small fan on the chest, or limiting the length of time spent in greenhouse sections where relative humidity is high. Another issue that can arise on the work floor is communication 💁♂️ “Because of the numerous nationalities working in a typical greenhouse horticulture company, communication both on the work floor and with management can be challenging," says Leunissen. "We want to address this with a solution that can generate an automatic real-time translation using artificial intelligence. There are already certain earphones on the market that we want to test, particularly for technical jargon, because that remains a challenge for language databases.” 🎧 In the next phase of the project, the team still wants to explore the type of work and physical demands of working in greenhouses. “Working in a greenhouse often involves repetitive actions performed in uncomfortable positions or is simply physically demanding," Leunissen explains. "There are several aspects we could explore, like wearable sensors that trigger an alarm if a person repeats the same action a lot, or using an exoskeleton to provide support for uncomfortable positions or physically demanding tasks.” 💬 How do you think we can improve the working conditions of greenhouse employees? Let us know in the comments 👇 The Joyride Horticulture project continues until the end of 2026. Follow us to hear more about the results! Wageningen Economic Research | Greenhouse Horticulture - Wageningen University & Research | #greenhouse #horticulture #AI

🌾 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝟑𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 🌎 For centuries, descendants of Africans who escaped from slavery, known as Maroons, have been growing rice in the interior of Suriname and French Guiana. New genetic research combined with ethnobotany by Wageningen University & Research and Naturalis Biodiversity Center Nederland has unravelled the origins of Maroon rice. Read all about this fascinating research by Tinde Van Andel, Nicholaas Milliano Pinas, Marieke Sophia van de Loosdrecht (new), Eric Schranz and colleagues 👇 💡 Want to know more about this subject? Watch the video and read the scientific publication 👉 https://lnkd.in/esjPXyGb #ethnobotany #genetics #maroonrice #colonialhistory #climatechange

😯 Have you ever seen a plant position itself optimally for light capture? 🌱👇 Plants are actually very competitive: they compete with each other for light, moisture and nutrients ☀ Leaves move to a more vertical position: anything to rise above their neighbours and intercept more light. This 'shade avoidance' response has been extensively researched. It is therefore remarkable that researchers from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Wageningen University & Research have discovered another entirely new mechanism: the important role of the plant hormone cytokinin. "New insights such as these can help agronomists and growers achieve better production in crops like barley, wheat, maize and rice," says professor Ronald Pierik 🌾 Curious to know what they found out? Read the full article 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKZZZy7T #plantresearch #plantsciences #molecularbiology

🎓 Professor Ioannis N. Athanasiadis has been appointed as the chairholder of the new chair group in Artificial Intelligence at Wageningen University & Research 👏 This chair group highlights the growing importance of AI for WUR and builds on previous investments in AI research and education. Prof Athanasiadis develops AI methods to address global challenges in agriculture and ecology. He strongly believes in practice-oriented, fundamental research: “I am driven by the complexity of natural systems and want to harness artificial intelligence for the good of the planet” 💚 What role can AI play in plant research? 🌱 And how does Ioannis Athanasiadis see his new role as chair holder? Read all about it below 👇 💡 Would you like to read the full interview? Find it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVnNAuPH #AI #climatechange #sustainability #agriculture

#COP16 🍏 Wageningen University & Research is spotlighting agrobiodiversity at the UN’s biodiversity conference 🔦 ‘Lack of biodiversity makes agrosystems vulnerable, just as it does ecosystems’, says Theo van Hintum, head of plant genetic resources at Centre for Genetic Resources, which is part of WUR. When a species appears vulnerable to a new disease or plague, a large section of our food production system may be impacted. Diversity can improve resilience, whether it’s in crops and animals, or farming methods themselves. Van Hintum is responsible for the storage of just under 24,000 plant varieties in CGN’s gene bank 🌱 ‘Our gene banks’ cryo-chambers keep genetic variations of key agriculture and horticulture crops safe so that breeders can use them to develop new varieties and for scientific research’, Van Hintum explains. ‘An old variety may be resistant to certain plagues and diseases.’ Breeding expert Peter Bourke stresses that the seeds in the gene bank are more than just a resource. Factors that form a threat to biodiversity in general now also threaten farm crops and wild varieties ☀ Heat, drought, soil degradation and the increase of farming soils may cause age-old varieties to disappear. ‘We call this genetic erosion. Some varieties have already been lost, and more are expected to follow.’ Agrobiodiversity does not just mean diversifying crops, but also farming methods 👩🌾 ‘Diversity in varieties implies diversifying farming methods, as different varieties require different farming practices’, Bourke explains. ‘Farmers transition from intensive farming to biodiversity-positive methods that create room for the environment, but are also more diverse in themselves.’ Examples include strip cropping and mixed cropping, where different crops are grown in close proximity, and mixed farms, where crops and cattle complement each other. The scientists are aware that there are obstacles on the path to increased agrobiodiversity. Economic factors, for one, says Van Hintum. ‘Right now, a few large companies determine the supply. And consumers must be willing to make a change as well 🍽 Is there a demand for more variety? Are consumers willing to pay? Can we accept a supply that changes regularly and is far less homogenous than the current supply?’ ‘Upscaling biodiversity-positive agriculture will take us forward towards more agrobiodiverse agriculture’, Bourke states. ‘To this end, existing businesses must transition, and a new generation of farmers must pick up new farming methods 🚜 This is, in fact, already happening, which is very inspiring. As scientists, we can support this transition by researching what varieties these new systems need.’ 💬 How can we transition towards a more agrobiodiverse agriculture? Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇 Centrum voor Genetische Bronnen Nederland (CGN) | #biodiversity #climatechange #farmingsystems #stripcropping

🐛 Weeds, fungi, nematodes and insects all cause problems for arable farmers during the production of their crops. How can farmers identify the ideal mix of measures for their particular circumstances? 👩🌾 That is where Integrated Crop Management comes in, an approach developed by Hilfred Huiting and Marleen Riemens at Wageningen University & Research. It’s a way of redesigning cultivation systems in such a way that diseases, pests and weeds have virtually no chance to get a foothold, while still minimising the use of chemical products 🚜 For each combination of a particular crop and a disease, pest or weed, Huiting and Riemens, along with their colleagues, piece together an intricate puzzle 🥔 They hope this will lead to an optimal strategy that can address every problem and provide a solution that will remain effective for a number of years. For example, it might involve the sequencing of crops across consecutive years, the selection of resistant crop varieties, and determining when and where to spray. “It’s about searching for the best mix of measures,” says Huiting, “and keeping in mind that one measure can exclude another in terms of space or time.” The results of the trials reveal not only the extent to which a particular strategy can reduce the use of chemical pesticides, but also how that strategy affects yield, quality, labour and costs. The idea is that farmers should soon have access to a kind of dashboard with tabs, so they can instantly see what combination of measures they could use 📱 The tabs will be grouped by topic: crop diversity in terms of space and time, variety and cultivation method, soil management, targeted pest control, and monitoring and evaluation. Behind each tab, farmers will be able to find information about the measures they can take. 💡 Want to know more about Integrated Crop Management? Read the article and watch the full video here 👉 https://lnkd.in/egkEbPZg #integratedcropmanagement #agriculture #cropprotection #biodiversity

No seeds, no agriculture. Then why did it take professor Leónie Bentsink five years to convince her colleagues and the industry of the importance of seed research? 🤔 Bentsink: ‘The seed sector is worth 2 billion euros annually, yet oddly enough, very little is invested in the related science 👩🔬 While there are countless questions that need answering. Think about improving seed germination, breeding climate-resilient varieties, researching seed storage, or developing a method to determine seed quality. These are all valuable research topics that the industry can directly benefit from.’ Luckily, seed research is on the rise again 🌱 Wageningen University & Research has recently appointed Patricija Gran as a seed technology researcher. Gran aims to spearhead projects that bridge academic research with industry needs. Her focus will be on enhancing seed quality through advanced breeding techniques, innovative treatments and seed testing methods, and improving overall seed health. In addition, more and more companies in the seed sector are joining Seeds for the Future, an initiative by Bentsink. Monique van Vegchel, policy specialist at Plantum, is glad that Bentsink reached out to discuss collaboration: ‘Now that more and more crop protection products are being banned, you can look for other means, but you can also focus on the seed. Plants are expected to do more and more, because they are increasingly exposed to extremes due to climate change 🌦 We want the seed and the young plant to ensure as predictable a harvest as possible.’ Theo van Hintum, head of at the Centre for Genetic Resources, is pleased with the strengthening of seed research at WUR as well. ‘There has actually been little research done on why we store seeds the way we do. We could potentially save a lot on energy costs or determine germination viability in a non-destructive way if we knew more. That is why this research is needed. Not just for CGN, but for all the seed banks worldwide, which all operate under the same protocols but actually don't know why.’ 💡 'With Seeds for the Future, we aim to create a research trajectory,' says Bentsink. ‘A combination of fundamental research, applied research and product development that companies can work with. There is still a lot to be discovered, so as far as I am concerned, this is just the beginning!’ Centrum voor Genetische Bronnen Nederland (CGN) | #seedresearch #climatechange #plantbreeding

Did you know that for 30 years, retiring professor Francine Govers was the only female staff member at the Laboratory of Phytopathology - Wageningen University? 😲 👩🔬 Francine Govers joined as an assistant professor in the early 1990s, and was appointed professor in 2008. "At international conferences, I always met many female colleagues, while here in Plant Sciences there were only a few female (associate) professors until about ten years ago. Fortunately, I see this changing, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near full equality yet." A significant part of Govers' working life at WUR has revolved around 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘴, the cause of the dreaded potato late blight disease 🥔 There is an ongoing arms race between science, industry, and farmers on one side, and #Phytophthora on the other. New varieties and crop protection agents are developed, which works well for a while, but then Phytophthora adapts. To break out of this constant cycle, Govers drew inspiration from medical science 🔎 "Just like with human pathogens, you must know the enemy inside out to find its weaknesses. Phytophthora has receptors in its cell membrane that are similar to those in humans. This offers opportunities for tackling Phytophtora." Another interesting feature of Phytophthora are its zoospores. They thrive in moist conditions and can swim rapidly. "We can now film them with a high-speed camera at many frames per second, allowing us to better understand their behavior," says Govers 💡 This opens up many new possibilities. "You could lure the zoospores away with certain substances or somehow impair their swimming ability." The moment of plant invasion is crucial. Although the pathogen is microscopically small, invasion involves enormous forces. Phytophthora can develop pressures of up to 28 bar. "Without that pressure, the pathogen cannot invade. So, you need to understand how that pressure is built," Govers explains. Once inside the plant, the oomycete secretes hundreds of proteins, which often disrupt basic processes that keep the plant cell in balance or produce defense compounds that the plant uses to protect itself 🌱 Govers: "A breakthrough was the discovery that these effectors all have a small, common segment, which ensures that the effector is taken up into the plant cell. This might offer clues for a broad resistance against late blight." Even without such broad resistance, the increased knowledge already allows for a more refined approach 💪 Looking back, Govers is proud of the great strides in knowledge she and her team, in collaboration with international researchers, have made 💚 "Now the challenge is to translate all the developed insights into practical solutions so that more sustainable potato cultivation can indeed become a reality." #phytopathology #womeninscience #molecularresearch