Potato microbiome project receives €940.000 research funding

A project aimed at developing new tools to predict and optimize potato plant growth by mapping the microorganisms living on seed potatoes has been awarded a 940.000 euro funding. The project, led by biologist Roeland Berendsen, will be a collaboration between Utrecht University and the commercial partners Agrifirm, Averis seeds, Bayer Cropscience and HZPC.  The funding is granted by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the private companies involved in the project. Potato is one of the world's most important food crops, but its production greatly depends on the use of fertilizers and pesticides. A promising strategy to reduce the use of these agrochemical, is to optimize the composition of beneficial microorganisms living on the plant. These microorganisms support growth and strength, creating a natural defense mechanism for potato plants. The new grant allows Utrecht biologist  Roeland Berendsen and his team to develop new tools to precisely map the microbial population on potato tubers.