BMBF project
"Establishing a model region of the bioeconomy for digitalization of plant-based value chains in the Central German mining area in Saxony-Anhalt"

During the years 2024 - 2032, the DiP project will establish a model region for a digitalized, climate-neutral and competitive plant-based bioeconomy in southern Saxony-Anhalt. The model region will be characterized by scientific excellence, innovative industries and attractive jobs.

In order to implement the objectives of the DiP project, a total of 21 joint R&D projects were launched starting in April 2024 on the three lighthouses (1) Value chains of agricultural crops, (2) Sustainable & climate-resilient cultivation systems for the production of bio-based raw materials and (3) Value chains of special crops. The lighthouses address the lead markets "Energy, mechanical & plant engineering, resource efficiency", "Chemistry & bioeconomy" and "Food & agriculture" of Saxony-Anhalt's Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS). The expansion of the plant-based value chains will include current sustainability issues, for example, decarbonizing the economy, increasing local added values, increasing biodiversity, digitalizing the plant-based circular economy and fostering the resilience against negative effects of climate change.

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Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1664 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Plant Proteoform Diversity - SNP2Prot

Despite climate change and resource scarcity, global agriculture must ensure food security for a growing population. The analysis of genetic characteristics of climate-resilient plants is important for this. A key genetic resource are point mutations, so-called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which contribute to genomic diversity. These SNPs can lead to different protein variants, so-called proteoforms, which help plants to adapt to different environmental conditions. The Collaborative Research Center “Diversity of Plant Proteoforms - SNP2Prot” investigates how genome variations translate into different proteoforms and how these influence the 3D structure and molecular functions of proteins to enable adaptations to environmental conditions.

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Meiotic recombination, pollen size, and selection in rye (Secale cereale) under the effects of abiotic stress caused by 140 years of monoculture

Plant breeding largely relies on the generation of novel allelic combinations through meiotic recombination and cross-pollination throughout sexual reproduction to achieve crop improvement. At the same time, recombination rate variation and cross-pollination are major evolutionary forces in plant populations. This project aims to understand the genetic architecture underlying variation in recombination rates, pollen size, and patterns of selection in response to abiotic stress caused by long-term monoculture. The knowledge generated here holds promise to improve plant breeding methods and support crop improvement by increasing genetic shuffling through recombination and cross-pollination.

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