Arable land, water and nutrients become scarce, while the climate is changing and the world’s population is further increasing. To ensure a sustainable supply with plant-based raw materials, innovative strategies for crop improvement are required.

CEPLAS conducts cutting-edge fundamental research to understand the genetic and biological principles behind complex plant traits, especially how plants and their associated microbes work together in changing environments.

Our goal is to predict how plants will perform under future conditions and to "program" next-generation SMART plants - plants with novel traits combinations and improved ability to adapt.

In addition, CEPLAS has established first-class training and study programmes for students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to train the future generation of plant scientists and bioinformaticians.
 

Scientists involved in the cluster CEPLAS are well-known experts in their respective fields and often have long-standing professional experience. Many are also members in the National Academies of Sciences of Germany, UK and USA, working independently of economic or political interests on scientific topics of social impact and put their results up for public and political discussion and advise stakeholders and politicians.

Topics:

• Sustainable Crop Plants
• Bioeconomy
• Synthetic Biology
• Green and White Biotechnology
• Plant Growth
• Plant Nutrition
• Plant Health
• Microbial Communities in Plants
• Technology Transfer
• Higher Education in Natural Sciences
• Data Science
• Quantitative Biology and Modelling