Resilient Crops
Our researchers focus on developing resilient crop varieties that thrive with minimal chemical input, and maintain yields even in challenging conditions. We derive insights from fundamental research on model, wild and cultivated plant species to enhance the performance of plants in the field. The ultimate goal is the development of climate-proof crop varieties that can cope better with environmental stressors related to climate change and require fewer resources.
CropXR
CropXR is an institute based in the Netherlands dedicated to developing more resilient crops through innovative ‘smart breeding’. To a solid foundation of Dutch plant biology, agricultural sciences, and plant breeding, the institute adds an integrated layer of experimental research, artificial intelligence and computational modelling. The goal is to develop technology and methods to generate new crop varieties that are better adjusted to climate change and less dependent on harmful agricultural interventions.
Contact: Guido van den Ackerveken
BioCliVe
The Utrecht University Biodiversity and Climate Variability Experiment, UU BioCliVE, is an experiment manipulating plant diversity and future precipitation scenarios to examine how biological diversity can provide us with natural insurance against climate change. The experiment was set up in May 2017 at the Utrecht University Botanical Gardens. It is a collaborative effort of the researchers at the Ecology & Biodiversity group of the Department of Biology at Utrecht University.
Contact: Yann Hautier
Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC)
NPEC facilitates state-of-the-art measurement of plant phenotypes to support research on genotype-phenotype associations. Establishing these associations is critical for the development of novel climate-proof crops and cropping systems. These novel crops and systems are necessary to secure our future high-quality food production, and improve the ecological sustainability of food production.
Contact: Roeland Berendsen