In December, researchers from the Agri-Explore and Value Plant consortia met for a joint winter retreat at the Heide campus in Halle. The one-day meeting brought together early-career and senior scientists to exchange results, discuss methods, and align perspectives across projects. Both consortia are funded by EU Structural Funds (ERDF), and the retreat reflected the shared aim: connecting fundamental plant science with applied questions in agriculture. The program opened with a set of focused scientific talks from the Value Plant consortium. Martin Schattat presented work on engineering plant guttation fluid as a source of secondary metabolites, highlighting an unconventional interface […]
Marija Milanovic
3 posts
On the 19th of August 2025, fifty-seven researchers gathered beneath the leafy canopies of Botanical Gardens of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg for the first joint retreat of the Value Plant (VP) and Agri-Explore (AE) projects. This full-day event blended scientific discussions with collegial exchange, aiming to welcome new PhD and postdoctoral candidates, share ongoing research and chart a path for future collaborations. Opening Remarks and Project Overviews The retreat began with a warm welcome from Ingo Heilmann, spokesperson for Value Plant, alongside Sven-Erik Behrens and Edgar Peiter representing Agri-Explore. Their remarks underscored the shared vision: to accelerate plant-based innovation through interdisciplinary […]
At Martin Luther University, the Value Plant Project focuses on Plant-Based Valuables and Optimised Productivity of Crop Plants. Our research aims to unlock the full potential of crops through sustainable and innovative plant science. Whether you’re a fellow researcher, student, or simply curious about the future of sustainable plant production, we invite you to explore our work and join us in growing a greener, more productive world.