Luca Weber
Research Focus
With annual crops contributing more than 85% of global calorie consumption, but often driving environmental degradation, there is an urgent need for more sustainable agricultural practices. Perennial crops offer a promising alternative, as they can improve soil health, reduce erosion, and require fewer resources. My project aims to uncover the genetic differences between annual and perennial growth in Hordeum (barley) to support the development of more sustainable cereal crops. Using advanced genetic analysis, I will identify key genetic variants that regulate life history traits such as flowering time and senescence to optimize reproductive development in annual crops. This research will deepen our understanding of plant life history and contribute to the breeding of "SMART" plants that can meet future agricultural needs with reduced environmental impact.
