Plant Biology

Bacteria as plant fertilizers: How soil microbes can help plants grow under drought

Farmers rely heavily on chemical fertilizers to boost crop yields, but this approach comes at a cost to soil quality, biodiversity, and plant fertility. Soil microbes may provide greener alternatives to help plants grow better under tough conditions like drought by triggering faster growth and earlier flowering. The intended result? Improved crop yields when water is scarce.

Engineering cell walls for a sustainable plant-based future

Beneath the Waves: The Remarkable Evolution of Seagrasses 

A story for International Darwin Day 

An interview with Marc Van Montagu

In honor of his 90th birthday and impressive career

Facing Future Challenges

Our young researchers in the spotlight

An update on CRISPR-Cas Genome editing in plants

Facts series Reviewed

Harnessing the power of soybeans

A journey of innovation in sustainable agriculture

From Mendel to Minecraft: the 200-year evolution of genetics

VIB researchers on the legacy of Gregor Mendel's work

From fundamental to applied science and later policy-making: sustainability is the recurring theme in alumna Stien Beirinckx's career

Trouble in the breadbasket

The Ukraine conflict and wheat import