Corné Pieterse is a professor of Plant-Microbe Interactions and the scientific director of the Institute of Environmental Biology at the Faculty of Science. His research group explores the molecular mechanisms through which the plant immune system defends against microbial pathogens and insect herbivores, as well as how beneficial microbes in the plant root microbiome enhance plant growth and health. In 2022, Corné Pieterse and his team were honored with the Spinoza Prize.
Globally, plant diseases and pests account for yield losses of up to 25% annually. Through their research, the Plant-Microbe Interactions group addresses critical societal challenges, including food security and sustainable agriculture. The Netherlands Plant Ecophenotyping Centre (NPEC), opened in 2023 and funded by the NWO Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructure, plays a central role in our research.