With respect to the translation of research results into application, CEPLAS provides a variety of perspectives:

• Molecular engineering of perennial plants from annuals by integrating the genetic determinants of perennialism
• Transfer of favourable agronomic traits from perennials into annuals: abiotic stress tolerance, nutrient-use efficiency
• Design of synthetic C4 plants by transferring the genetic/molecular determinants of C4 photosynthesis into C3 plants
• Molecular engineering of optimized C3 and C4 photosynthesis by targeting the rate limiting steps in the conversion of light energy to chemical energy
• Development of “biologicals” for plant protection and plant nutrition, on the basis of understanding the composition and function of the plant microbiome
• Design of novel chemical components for plant protection and plant nutrition, on the basis of understanding the biochemical processes of “communication” between plants and their microbiome
• Molecular breeding and engineering of plants with improved disease resistance using the molecular components that determine the type and outcome of plant-microbe interactions.
• Modelling of approaches for molecular engineering of improved plant traits
• Development of tool boxes for molecular engineering of improved plant traits