Project description
Stabilising crop yield under unfavourable conditions by molecular priming
Today’s agricultural industry is required to deliver ever-increasing food and feed amounts under the pressures of the climate crisis. Moreover, consumers and regulators increasingly demand environmentally friendly solutions to combat abiotic and biotic stress associated with yield losses. Biostimulants represent an alternative to synthetic agrochemicals and can sustainably improve crop productivity. A science-based understanding of their beneficial effects as well as avenues for fine-tuning their bioactivities are needed. The EU-funded CropPrime project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying stress priming and deliver optimised biostimulants to counteract stress-induced yield losses. To achieve this task, leading plant scientists in abiotic and biotic stress signalling from Europe, Africa and South America will join forces with an industrial partner specialising in biostimulants production and marketing.
Objective
Modern agriculture is expected to provide ever-increasing amounts of food and feed under uncertain climate scenarios and significant pressure from consumers and regulators for environmentally friendly solutions to combat abiotic and biotic stress associated yield losses. Biostimulants that can improve crop productivity in a sustainable way offer a plausible alternative to the heavily criticized synthetic agrochemicals. To achieve their full potential a science-based understanding of their beneficial effects and avenues for fine-tuning of their bioactivities are of utmost importance. The proposed project will bring together expertise in plant systems biology, chemical biology, as well as biostimulant preparation and characterization, to discover new and optimize existing biostimulants by tapping into innovative sources of natural compounds and integrative biology approaches for elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying stress priming. A global network of leading plant scientists in abiotic and biotic stress signaling from Europe, Africa, and South America, facilitated by an industrial partner specializing in biostimulants production and marketing, will channel their efforts to bring sustainable solutions for crop protection to the farmer. An extensive mobility program will facilitate optimal knowledge-sharing within the network, maximize the research outputs and ultimately lead to increasing the human capacity of the partners.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE - HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff ExchangesCoordinator
613 00 Brno Sever
Czechia