Science Director: Yves Van de Peer

In the next decades, the world market for plant-derived products is expected to grow exponentially. Not only do we rely on plants to feed the growing world population, but plants will also play a pivotal role in providing a significant portion of our energy needs, and in fulfilling our demand for renewable industrial resources. It is expected that (bio)technological advances will further boost crop productivity and quality and make it possible to develop agricultural practices in better harmony with the natural environment. We framed our research to address important challenges and opportunities for plant research.