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 […]
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From 18–22 May 2026, members of the Value Plant consortium attended the 14th International Conference on Plant Mitochondrial Biology (ICPMB 2026) in Kagoshima, Japan. Held every two years, the conference brings together researchers from around the world working on plant mitochondrial biology. This year’s meeting offered valuable opportunities to connect with the strong Japanese research community, particularly scientists studying cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), which is one of the focuses of the Value Plant project. Prof. Dr. Kristina Kühn (PI, WP2-4), Dr. Etienne Meyer (PI, WP2-4) and Dr. Sarlita Dwiani (PostDoc, WP2-4) exchanged knowledge, discussed recent advances and strengthened international collaborations. […]
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 […]
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.