Partners
Spanish National Research Council - Zaidín Experimental Station
The coordinator of the project EEZ-CSIC is a centre of reference in Europe that carries cutting edge research, especially in the fields of bioremediation, biotransformation of organic wastes and plant protection, simbiotic interacions between plants and microorganisms, and signalling, stress and development in plants. The multidisciplinary character of the EEZ's research integrating different areas of knowledge places the Centre at an excellent position to significantly contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
Contribution
As a project coordinator, EEZ-CSIC will carry out most of the management activities, the coordination between the participants and will be the main party responsible for the communication with the EU.
Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology
CPSBB is a prominent research institution located in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Established as the first Bulgarian Center of Excellence in Plant Biology and Biotechnology, CPSBB focuses on conducting both fundamental and applied research in areas such as molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. The center utilizes cutting-edge genetics and genomics technologies to address fundamental questions related to plant development. Supported by the EU Commission, the Bulgarian Government, and the Plovdiv Municipality, CPSBB has rapidly become a leading plant science institute in Bulgaria.
Contribution
CPSBB will contribute with expertise on abiotic stress physiology, signal transduction and stress tolerance characterization as well as in bioinformatics, especially transcriptomics analysis and data integration. Moreover, CPSBB will coordinate the dissemination, communication and exploitation measures.
VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology
VIB-PSB is a leading European research institute and an internationally recognized center of excellence in plant systems biology. The core mission is to translate excellence in basic research to benefits for society.
Contribution
Prof. Frank Van Breusegem's Laboratory will join the project with a set of proprietary Arabidopsis lines crucial for a mode of action discovery and know-how and expertise in chemical biology and stress signaling.
BIOLOGY CENTER CAS
BC CAS performs mainly fundamental and also applied research, and provides education in a number of biological disciplines. Research conducted at BC CAS predominantly addresses ecological themes, with a significant emphasis on biomedicine. The research involves collaboration across disciplines, use of diverse methodological approaches (molecular biology, genetics, taxonomy, field ecology, mathematical modelling, etc.), and a combination of analytical and holistic approaches to problem solving.
Contribution
BC CAS brings expertise in plant signal transduction which is at the core of the activity of plant biostimulants. He will host researchers to investigate the activity and molecular processes triggered by novel compounds such as ROS burst, callose deposition and MAP kinase activation.
BioAtlantis
BioAtlantis is a marine biotechnology company, specializing in the production and purification of natural bioactive compounds with the aim of providing solutions to specific problems in crops, animals and humans. The company's involvement in CropPrime builds on its strong reputation as a disruptor in the European biotechnology sector and in the delivery of environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to crop growers worldwide.
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Contribution
BioAtlantis will enrich the consortium with the perspective of a successful biotechnological company that actively invests in research and innovation (R&I) and has coordinated and participated in a range of national and international R&I projects. The company will develop environmentally sustainable biostimulant and biofungicide technologies that will enhance yield in fruiting vegetables and berry crops.
University of Johannesburg
UJ one of South Africa's largest universities, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs and it ranks among the top universities in Africa.. UJ is known for its focus on innovation, research, and global engagement, with strong industry partnerships and a commitment to African development.
Contribution
The team of Dr. Fidele Tugizimana and Dr. Msizi Mhlongo from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) consists of outstanding experts on metabolomics and has state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure for that purpose. Early-stage and experienced researchers from some of the other partners will be seconded to UJ to adopt the essential methods and approaches used in this field as well as to perform metabolomics-related research tasks. Finally, the group at the UJ will organize a "Plant metabolomics workshop".
IBR CONICET
The goal of IBR CONCIET is the generation, dissemination, and application of scientific knowledge in biological sciences through excellent research, teaching, and the transfer of this knowledge to the productive, health, and community sectors. Their mission is the pursuit of knowledge driven by excellence, with a focus on the needs of society. In this paradigm, the knowledge generated at IBR has led to the creation of companies, patents, and products in the biotechnology and healthcare markets.
Contribution
The group of Prof. Maria Rosa Marano at IBR-CONICET possesses significant knowhow on the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis extracts against different types of biotic stresses in crops of agronomic interest and will be primarily responsible for providing access and expertise with different pathosystems for the characterization of novel natural compounds from phytophthora and rosemary extracts. This role will be complemented by a course "Molecular tools for study of plant-pathogen interactions" organized by IBR-CONICET. Researchers from IBR-CONICET will be involved in all other research-related tasks.
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics
The research conducted at IPPG is in the field of functional plant biology. It is focused on three primary research directions: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Plant Ecophysiology and Experimental Algology. These research topics are closely aligned with the needs of society and offer substantial potential for long-term applications across various domains, including sustainable agriculture, healthcare, the efficient utilization of natural resources and environmental protection, particularly in conditions of ongoing climate changes.
Contribution
IPPG-BAS has accumulated significant expertise in elucidating the epigenetic aspects of the regulation of gene expression in plants under normal and stressful environmental conditions. Their role will be instrumental in deciphering the mode of action of rosemary extracts and sea-weed based biostimulants in secondments to CONICET, UJ, and UW.
CEFOBI CONICET
CEFOBI CONICET focuses on biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and plant physiology, conducting both basic and applied research. Key areas of study include plant-microorganism interactions, photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and cellular processes. The institute also provides specialized services, such as microbial control applications, molecular detection, amino acid analysis, and micropropagation of plants. CEFOBI contributes to advancements in biotechnology and agriculture, offering its expertise for both scientific and industrial purposes.
Contribution
The group of Nicolás Blanco aims to identify how the regulation of photosynthetic performance is integrated into the mechanisms and signaling pathways that sustain plant cell energy homeostasis. Specifically, his team will reveal the changes in the photosynthesis-photoprotection trade-off over time in response to (a) priming and (b) increased tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress in primed plants during outgoing secondments to IPPG-BAS, EEZ-CSIC and BC CAS and while hosting reasearchers from IPPG-BAS. The output of this work package will help optimize new priming formulations in terms of application mode and simplify the screening methods for priming through non-invasive techniques for quantifying photosynthetic parameters.
UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER
The University of Worcester is a public university located in Worcester, England. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across disciplines such as education, health sciences, arts, social sciences, business, and sports. It is known for its strong emphasis on student support, employability, and community engagement. The university also boasts excellent facilities, including state-of-the-art sports and teaching facilities, and has a growing reputation for research excellence, particularly in the fields of healthcare, sports, and environmental sciences.
Contribution
The group of Mahmut Tör will leverage its extensive expertise in plant-microbe interactions, with a focus on dsRNA-mediated protection of crops and the use of beneficial microorganisms for combating plant diseases. UW will host researchers engaged in studying the genetics and molecular biology of plant-pathogen interactions, which are crucial for developing effective dsRNA strategies. Specifically, UW will contribute by exploring the mechanisms of dsRNA-induced gene silencing to protect crops from pathogens, integrating these findings with the protective effects of natural biostimulants such as laminaria extracts.