Funding institution: Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR)
Institutions involved: University of Barcelona, Centre for research in agricultural Genomics (CRAG), Polytechnic University of Catalonia
Period of execution: 2023-2026
Brief description: The objective of the group is to evaluate natural occuring antioxidants and their potential for agrobiotechnology applications creating synergies between researchers of different Catalan institutions to give answer to several major challenges raised by society demands.
Funding institution: Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR)
Institutions involved: University of Barcelona
Period of execution: 2023
Brief description: Find alternative protein sources for human nutrition is a prioritary task to meet the global challenges the world would be facing in the near future for food demand and a climate change scenario. Legumes represent a good choince in terms of nutritional value and protein content but its production may be reduced in drought stress situations. Biostimulants based on natural products migh be a good strategy to preserve productivity whilst promoting organic farming. For this reason the aim of this project is to develop CAFPROM, a new product for legume production in organic farming.
Funding institution: Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR)
Institutions involved: University of Barcelona
Period of execution: 2023
Brief description:
Modern agricultural systems have prioritized production over long-term crop conservation, so for decades, an over-simplification model with intensive management and monoculture fields has been implemented. In fact, the issue with abusive use of multiple phytosanitary products is over-treatment, residue accumulation and the induction of pathogen resistance. Using next-generation phytosanitary products or biostimulants would benefit to provide nutritious and safe food for a growing population, in particular food like strawberries with high contents of vitamins and antioxidants with important health properties. However, to formulate these new generation biostimulants, the use of natural and innovative molecules would be necessary. For this reason, this project is an important asset to develop efficient biostimulants with beneficial properties for the cultivation of strawberries.
Funding institution: Catalan Institute of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)
Institutions involved: University of Barcelona
Period of execution: 2021-2026
Brief description: ICREA awarded Prof. Dr. Sergi Munné-Bosch for its outstanding research during the last years with the objective to keep talent in the Catalan research system by funding 5 years of research.
Funding institution: Spanish ministry of Science and Innovation
Institutions involved: University of Barcelona
Period of execution: 2020-2024
Brief description: Plastids are plant cell-specific organelles of endosymbiotic origin with important functions for plant development, including a regulatory hub for photosynthesis in chloroplasts or performing as storage organelles in chromoplasts and amyloplasts. Retrograde signaling between plastids and plant cell nucleus is considered essential for plant development and overcome stress situations, but little is known about the involvement of antioxidants and signals emaning from plastid membranes. The project aims for a better understanding of plastid retrograde signaling at different phases of plant development and abiotic stress situations.
PLANTsynergy group has performed tech transfer projects with the following companies:
