On 1st of July 2026, members of the Agri-Explore and Value Plant consortia met at the Botanical Garden of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg for their joint Summer Retreat. The event brought together researchers from both projects to present current work, exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration across disciplines.
The retreat opened with a poster session, which provided an excellent opportunity for informal scientific discussions. The session facilitated interactions between early-career researchers (PhD students and Postdocs) and project leaders, fostered new connections and stimulated discussions that may develop into future collaborations.
Throughout the day, researchers from both consortia presented a broad range of scientific topics, including plant development, genome engineering, RNA analysis, crop resilience and strategies to improve plant productivity. The presentations and discussions highlighted the complementary expertise within the two projects and provided valuable insights into ongoing research activities.
The retreat concluded with the joint general assembly, where participants discussed project updates and future activities. Overall, the Summer Retreat provided an important forum for scientific exchange, networking and strengthening the collaboration between the Agri-Explore and Value Plant consortia.
Winter Retreat will be held on November 25th 2026.
