Climate change in Europe will enhance the risk of drought spells and changes in precipitation with an earlier water deficit in summers and heavier precipitations during autumn and winter. Consequently, prolonged shortages in water supply will cause considerable yield losses. Furthermore, since chemical plant growth regulators are harmful for humans and the environment they will probably be increasingly restricted and banned in the near future. Both issues are highly problematic for our European farmers and growers.
RootsPlus intends to develop a sustainable solution by a novel breeding technology focusing on the roots. A better adaptation of plants to stress can be obtained enhancing root growth: this will improve the plant capacity to exploit soil water resources and give them a higher tolerance to plant replant disease. The transfer of bacterial genes to crops in a natural way will produce compact plants with less agro-chemicals.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.