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Activity Funded

GREEN-IT "Bioresources for Sustainability"

GREEN-IT "Biorecursos para a Sustentabilidade"

Reference
UIDB/04551/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Agricultural sciences
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes GREEN-IT contributes to achieve the 2nd UN Sustainable Development goal (2030 Agenda) and the 2nd European Societal Challenge. In a field-to-bench-to-field approach, and through the cross-talk between agronomists, biologists, biochemists and chemical engineers, we uncover basic plant mechanisms and translate knowledge into agricultural and industrial applications. GREEN-IT involves ITQB, iBET, IGC and INIAV (all from Oeiras Campus), and INSA (in Lisbon). Together, we bring complementary expertise in plant nutrition and development, (a)biotic stress biology, plant biotechnology and breeding, integrated pest management, and product/food quality. We focus on crops relevant to the Mediterranean region and on the growing challenges that climate change poses to agricultural production. Specifically, we address the impacts of changing temperatures, reducing water availability, increasing salinity and biotic constraints on plant development and pest/disease vectors. We also address the plants´ efficiency to use resources and convert them into biomass, in order to develop strategies to improve yield in key crops. We are organized in four Scientific (A) and four Infrastructure (B) groups: A1-Shaping plant development: mechanisms& pathways; A2-Plant stress: sensing, response & management; A3-Healthier plant nutrition for food security & quality; A4-Germplasm diversity, selection, & breeding; B1 High-throughput/Technological platforms; B2-Bioinformatics platform & Biostatistics; B3-Education at technical & post-graduation levels; B4-Science management, tech transfer & outreach. With GREEN-IT expertise, infrastructures and international networks, we advance research in biological processes highly affected by climate change, like sexual reproduction, embryo/seed development, photosynthesis, carbon partitioning to agriculturally relevant sinks (seed, wood, cork). We uncover stress sensing/response mechanisms and envisage integrated, environmentally-friendly management strategies to mitigate yield losses imposed by (a)biotic factors. We analyze soil fertility, microbiome and environmental conditions determining plant productivity and quality. We develop and apply innovative knowledge to improve Mediterranean crops, addressing climate change and market demands. To reach our goals we have implemented and manage essential infrastructures and high-throughput technologies, making them available to all GREEN-IT members. We develop tools and standards to analyze, store and manage experimental data. We train world-class plant scientists through our Plants4Life international PhD program, provide technical education to technicians and farmers, and attract students to plant research. We create and develop frameworks to facilitate research, to transfer knowledge into innovation, to promote value creation and to improve public perception of plant sciences to a broad spectrum of stakeholders. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation GREEN-IT GOALS AND PARTNERS- We aim to contribute towards achieving the 2nd UN Sustainable Development goal: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture. GREEN-IT comprises 5 Institutes, 4 within the Oeiras Campus (ITQB, iBET, IGC, INIAV) and 1 in Lisbon (INSA), joining complementary expertise of agronomists/biologists/biochemists/chemical engineers in plant development and nutrition, (a)biotic stress biology, biotechnology, integrated pest management, breeding, and product and food quality. We focus on crops relevant to the Mediterranean region and the growing challenges that climate change poses to agricultural production. Specifically, we address changing temperatures, reduced water availability, increased salinity, and biotic constraints, by studying impacts on plant developmental traits and vectors for pests and diseases. We also address the plant´s efficiency to manage resources and convert them into biomass underpining our strategies to improve yield in major crops. We use a field-to-bench-to-field approach to translate knowledge into agricultural applications. GREEN-IT TEAM- Integrates 125 members, 66 PhD holders, 45 PhD students, and 14 MSc students and technicians. We also include 30 collaborators from 13 other Research Units (broadening access to skills/facilities), and 10 collaborators from 8 private bodies, including producers´ and industrial associations, operational/innovation centers, biotech disseminators, and a fertilizer company. Our worldwide network (see publications) is reinforced by our International PhD Program with leading foreign partners (Max Planck Inst-Golm, DE, ViB-UGent, BE, Sainsbury Lab-Cambridge Univ. and TSL-Norwich, UK) and our International Scientific Advisory Board (P. Christou-ICREA, Lleida, SP; D. Bartels-Univ. Bonn, DE; S. Kamoun-TSL, Norwich, UK). TRACK-RECORD- We have uncovered basic mechanisms regulating C assimilation/management, stress sensing/responses and wood/cork formation. We assessed environmental impact on food quality/allergenicity and identified key molecular markers for important agronomic traits. We have contributed substantially to the release of new crop varieties (in 2017, the PT National Catalogue of new varieties listed 59 INIAV varieties of cereals, grain legumes and forages bred to adapt to regional edapho-climatic conditions and improve yield/disease resistance) and to develop new chemicals (from design to implementation and field bioassays) to control plant pests and diseases (e.g., to control pine wood nematode and to capture its insect-vector). OUR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION is further verified through our international network of collaborators, increasing requests to join Editorial Boards and review manuscripts submitted to high-impact journals, and international grant applications, speak at international scientific meetings and institutions, participate in international scientific committees to help design science agendas and advance research, lecture in international courses and evaluate and examine European PhD theses and host students and sabbatical visits. OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN& STRATEGY - We are organized in 4 Scientific (A) and 4 Infrastructure (B) groups. The latter were created to facilitate access to basic knowledge, skills, and infrastructures to all GREEN-IT members under the principle of equal access. To assist the Coordinator (MM Oliveira), a deputy-Coordinator (P. Fevereiro) has been designated. All groups have a Principal Investigator (PI), and a supporting scientist (Co-PI) with complementary expertise (when possible from a different Institution to reinforce cross-institutional cooperation) composing the Scientific/Infrastructure Councils: A.1. Shaping plant development: Mechanisms& pathways. PI: Elena Baena IGC; Co-PI: Nelson Saibo ITQB A.2. Plant stress: Sensing, response & management. PI: Isabel Abreu ITQB; Co-PI: Edmundo Sousa INIAV A.3. Healthier plant nutrition for food security & quality. PI: Margarida Oliveira ITQB; Co-PI: Corina Carranca INIAV A.4. Germplasm diversity, selection, & breeding. PI: Pedro Fevereiro ITQB; Co-PI: Benvindo Maçãs INIAV B.1. High-throughput/Technological platforms. PI: Jorg Becker IGC; Co-PI: A. Luísa Simplício iBET B.2. Bioinformatics platform & biostatistics. PI: Pedro Barros ITQB; Co-PI: Carlota Vaz Patto ITQB B.3. Education at technical & post-graduation levels. PI: Nelson Saibo ITQB; Co-PI: Carla Brites INIAV B.4. Science funding, tech transfer & outreach. PI: Madalena Martins ITQB; Co-PI: Piet van der Linde private/ITQB With our expertise, infrastructures and (inter)national networks, we will ADVANCE RESEARCH in (A): 1.-Biological processes highly affected by climate change, e.g., sexual reproduction, embryo/seed development, photosynthesis, carbon partitioning to agriculturally relevant sinks (seed, wood, cork); 2.-Stress sensing/response mechanisms and integrated, environmentally-friendly management strategies to mitigate yield losses imposed by biotic/abiotic factors; 3.-Fertility, microbiome and environmental conditions of the soil, affecting plant productivity and quality; 4.-Innovative knowledge (precision and new breeding techniques) to improve Mediterranean agriculture, addressing climate change and market demands. We will ensure that we provide (B): 1.-Essential infrastructures, high-throughput technologies, and other specific techniques to all GREEN-IT team members; 2.-Tools and standards to analyze, store and manage experimental data; 3.-Training of world-class plant scientists, technicians and farmers, while attracting more students to plant research; 4.-Frameworks that facilitate research, promote value creation and improve public perception of plant sciences to a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Intellectual Property (including Freedom to Operate analysis) constitutes a critical element of our strategy as we move forward. We address IP and FTO specifically in the subsequent section.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • GREEN-IT (GREEN-IT/ITQB NOVA/UNL)
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL)

Other Institutions

  • Fundação GIMM - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM)
  • Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (FCG)
  • Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET)

Funding 1.399.125,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

1.399.125,00 €