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Institutions

  • ‘European Universities – Alliances for the Future’ Conference

    The Polish conference ‘European Universities – Alliances for the Future’, which took place on 4 and 5 September 2024 in Krakow, Poland, was an opportunity to present the activities carried out at UNIgreen.

    The UNIgreen perspective

    ‘Academics and administration – two worlds or communicating vessels? Experiences and recommendation’

    The event agenda allowed presenting UNIgreen’s perspective on two occasions.

    On the first day of the event, the Vice- Rector for Internationalisation, dr hab. Marta Mendel, prof. SGGW, contributed her expertise and experience during the ‘Academics and administration – two worlds or communicating vessels? Experiences and recommendations’ panel.

    The panel was also joined by dr hab. Katarzyna Górak-Sosnowska, prof. SGH, the Chair of the Academic Administration Forum Association; dr hab. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, prof. UŁ, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of Science and Education, University of Łódź; Grzegorz Robak, Director of the Centre for International Cooperation and the ENHANCE+ Alliance core officer, Warsaw University of Technology. The discussion was moderated by Ewa Kiszka, Chair of the IROs Forum, Head of the Internationalisation Office of the, Gdansk Medical University.

    ‘The initiative to establish so-called European Universities is an initiative to build bridges, to cooperate more closely and deeply, to combine skills and resources. We are to work together to make European universities a place that responds to societal challenges and the demand for competences in Europe,’ said Ewa Kiszka (GUMed/IROs).

    Rector Marta Mendel addressed the question of evaluating the impact of academics and administrative staff on the various tasks and functions faced by the Universities of the Future, and the question of where the clue to building an efficient, engaged, open and well-connected academic community may be found.

    Rector Mendel stressed the fact that ‘the cooperation and synergy between academic and administrative staff guarantees a diversity of perspectives and their mutual complementarity. ‘At UNIgreen, we work as a team and are in regular contact so that the flow of information and ongoing communication provides everyone involved in our Alliance with a sense of satisfaction with the activities carried out’.

    The other opportunity to present UNIgreen was a discussion panel ‘The power of PR in the activities of EUI Alliances’, which was moderated by Anna Kiryjow-Radzka, President of the PR and Promotion of Polish Association of Polish Universities ‘PRom’, PR specialist at SGGW, the WP9 Dissemination and Communication coordinator, who invited female experts to join the discussion: Renata Czeladko, head of the Press Centre and Public relations Office, Spokesperson for SWPS University;  Anna Kuczborska, Communication officer, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń; Marta Malepszak, Head of the European University Office at Poznan University of Technology; Anna Żmuda-Muszyńska, spokeswoman for the Centre for Communication and Marketing at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

    The main purpose of the panel was to discuss the role and importance of public relations activities in creating the image and increasing the impact of the European University Alliances. The panellists shared with the audience their thoughts and experiences on the impact of PR activities on the awareness and reputation of the Alliances, the role of PR in creating the image of the EUI Alliances as promoters of European values and the role of PR as a trigger for internationalisation. The discussion also addressed communication challenges. The experts, among others, answered questions on how to build and promote a common Alliance identity while respecting the individual identities of each university. They concluded by discussing the greatest challenges in adapting PR strategies to diverse conditions – language barriers, cultural barriers and differences in communication styles between Alliance members.

    Second European Universities Conference – Expectations and Challenges

    The conference provided an excellent demonstration of the European Universities issue as being a major perspective that is both a source of international prestige and a great challenge for universities. Thanks to the panel discussions, the event participants learned about the most up-to-date activities implemented at all strategic and operational levels.

  • 1st International Congress

    The 1st International Congress on Innovation, Agriculture and Sustainability in Amazonas was held on 10 and 11 April in Manaus, Brazil, in a co-organization by the Polytechnic University of Coimbra (PUC), as partner of the european alliance UNIgreen, the Amazonas State Government, the Amazonas State Legislative Assembly and the Amazonas International Relations Centre (NURIAM). More than 700 participants participated in this first edition of the event, that discussed the future of agriculture, with the submission of 59 papers to the scientific committee and presentation in themed rooms. 

    For two days, the Vasco Vasques Convention Centre in Amazonas was the stage for a debate on the main challenges facing agriculture, bringing together researchers, professionals, academics and specialists for a moment of sharing and reflection on how agricultural practices can be transformed to preserve the environment, optimise natural resources and, at the same time, guarantee increased productivity and the creation of innovative technological solutions that meet the demands of the sector.

    The congress programme included three Conferences:

    • ‘Climate Change and Agricultural Production’,
    • ‘Innovation and Technology in Agriculture’,
    • ‘Challenges for Sustainable Agriculture’,

    in the 21st Century’, as well as discussions and presentations spread across various relevant thematic groups, such as Responsible Governance, Land Use and Climate Change; Technology, Quality and Food Safety; Agricultural and Rural Policy, among others. Additionally, the event was accompanied by an exhibition and regional fair, where various organizations, associations, and activities from Amazonas were showcased.

    The UNIgreen delegation actively participated in the Congress not only as attendees but also as panelists, presenters, chairs of the sessions, and seized the key opportunity to present the Alliance’s strengths and discuss opportunities for collaboration. 

    Professor Maria João Cardoso presented the activities of UNIgreen Alliance and emphasized that by connecting European universities with institutions in Amazonas, UNIgreen aims to facilitate cross-continental partnerships that address global agricultural and environmental challenges. Professor Rui Costa also presented the UNIgreen International PhD School, a unique initiative that offers interdisciplinary research opportunities focused on sustainable agriculture, agroecology, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. Professor Mariusz Maciejczak presented the Joint Research Centers of UNIgreen as a platform for collaboration among Alliance members and their external partners, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the research and development activities, its innovation, and the wide-ranging potential for implementing cutting-edge solutions in the areas of importance for both European and Brazilian partners. Professor Marta Henriques emphasized the importance of collaboration between UNIgreen partners, the state of Amazonas, and Brazil as a whole, highlighting their shared vision for the development of sustainable agriculture and rural areas. She pointed out that in many areas, this collaboration could be synergistic, leading to groundbreaking solutions with global impact. Finally, Professor Jorge Conde, President of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra, underscored the significance of the congress as an opportunity for European universities specializing in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and life sciences to engage with the challenges and innovative practices being implemented in the Amazon region. 

  • 2nd edition of the Equality Days: Intersectionality

    During the month of November, UNIgreen organized its Equality Days on our various campuses.

    This year, the chosen topic was intersectionality: a sociological concept that describes how different forms of discrimination (i.e. racism, sexism) intersect and reinforce one another. Rather than simply adding up, these forms of discrimination create unique and specific experiences of oppression for the people who experience them simultaneously.

    A webinar was led by Thibaut Lamoureux (teacher at HEPL) and brought together speakers from minority groups who were directly affected by the topic: Tindara Addaboo, from Italy, Bastien Bomans, from Belgium, and Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir from Iceland. Sharing their experiences provided greater clarity on their situation and how to work on ourselves to avoid our biases, whether cultural or interpersonal.

    To explore this topic further, multiple events took place in each institution:

    Agricultural University of Iceland hosted a watch party of the Let’s Talk Intersectionality Webinar that featured the Icelandic expert, Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir who discussed key notions of intersectionality and its impact in their personal experience.

    At Agricultural University – Plovdiv, students gathered for a highly engaging seminar on the gender pay gap, jointly organized by Work Package 5 and Work Package 2 of the UNIgreen Alliance. Participants learned about the difference between the unadjusted pay gap, which reflects overall earnings disparities, and the adjusted gap, which takes into account education, occupation, working hours, and sector. The seminar also examined the social and structural factors shaping pay inequality, from career progression barriers to long-term effects on pensions and financial security.

    Polytechnic University of Coimbra promoted reflection on intersectionality in higher education through the development of a social awareness campaign created by students from the fields of Art and Design, Communication and Multimedia Design, and Organizational Communication.

    SupBiotech Engineering School of Biotechnology hosted an Escape Game and debate for first-year students to raise awareness about gender equality, both in society and within SupBiotech.

    University-College of the Province of Liège organized a “diversity fresco” aimed at students but also at administrative and teaching staff. This allows us to highlight our cognitive, emotional, cultural, biases, to understand them and learn to tame them in order to avoid them. The activity was met with great enthusiasm and sparked debate: how do our biases define us?

    The University of Almería organized a meeting on public policies, embodied care: deferred experienced, a discussion of how, in the field of care, public policies are integrated and form a broad matrix of mutual and intersubjective relationships.

    University of Modena and Reggio Emilia released a special edition of Voices of Change at UNIgreen podcast, concentrating on raising Awareness of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, featuring Dr. Giacomo Guaraldi and Giulia Cattaneo, student.

    Warsaw University of Life Sciences organized an open meeting for the entire university community on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event brought together its team supporting people with special needs to discuss relevant issues and topics in this domain.

    Once again, UNIgreen demonstrates its dedication to inclusive education, open to all and deeply rooted in evolution.

  • 2nd UNIgreen Joint International Center

    On October 14-16, the UNIgreen European University Alliance held the working meeting of the Join International Centre (JIC) at the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI).

    UNIgreen, the green European University, is an alliance of 8 higher education institutions from across Europe, and UNIgreen’s focus on the fields of Sustainable Agriculture, Green Biotechnology, and Environmental and Life Sciences is at the core of the Alliance.

    The Alliance is transitioning from the initial period when it worked hard on establishing the foundations of its collaboration, creating strong bonds between its eight institutions and academic communities. Many challenges still lie ahead of us, challenges that are common for similar European Universities or academic networks, but nothing that can’t be solved by dedicated collaboration and joint will. 

    The first day at Harpa Conference Centre in Reykjavík offered an overview of the Alliance’s achievements and steps taken towards the ultimate goal of becoming the leading European University in our domain. 

    Debates and meetings continued for the next two days when over 100 participants moved to the main AUI campus at Hvanneyri.  

    Key topics on the agenda included strengthening cooperation in research projects between the Alliance members through the Joint Research Centre, introducing the UNIgreen Internationalisation Strategy, and developing new joint and double degree study programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels.   

    Newly formed UNIgreen Clusters of researchers, students and representatives of businesses at each member institution are promising closer links with local communities, impact on the regional level and improved readiness of UNIgreen graduates for the quickly developing labour market.  

    With many exciting projects ahead, including initiatives on the further development of start-up incubators enhancing student entrepreneurship, UNIgreen is eager to use the momentum from the JIC meeting to further expand and deepen our partnerships and initiatives.  

    One of the significant outcomes of our event in Iceland was the reached agreement regarding more frequent meetings of the UNIgreen Management Panel with the aim to improve horizontal and also vertical communication within the Alliance. 

    It was rewarding to see the 8 universities continue to grow together as a UNIgreen family, working toward shared goals and fulfillment of our common mission and vision. 

    In addition to the working meetings the group had the opportunity to visit the three university farms; the dairy barn, sheephouse and equine centre and speak with the farm managers on site.

    The guests were also offered a sightseeing tour in the surrounding area of the campus that included sights of  glaciers, mountains, rivers and hot springs, there was even a sighting of northern lights on the first evening. The group had a look around the historical buildings in the old campus centre and visited the Agricultural Museum and the Agronomy centre ending in a feast of local food and music in the university’s sports hall and cantina.

  • 80th Anniversary & New Year at Agricultural University

    On September 9, 2025, the Agricultural University – Plovdiv held a solemn ceremony to mark the opening of the 2025/2026 academic year, coinciding with the celebration of its 80th anniversary.

    Official guests at the event included:

    • Assoc. Prof. Yanislav Yanchev – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food;
    • Mr. Kostadin Dimitrov – Mayor of Plovdiv Municipality;
    • Mr. Alejandro Zotner Mayer – Ambassador of Argentina;
    • Mr. Emil Zhakota – Ambassador of Moldova;
    • Mrs. Nurdzhan Karadzhova – Deputy Regional Governor;
    • Mr. Giuseppe De Francesco – Honorary Consul of Italy in Plovdiv;
    • Dr. Mariana Cholakova – Honorary Consul of Germany;
    • Dr. Momchil Stanishev – Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe;
    • Representatives from local government,
    • The AU Board of Trustees,
    • Other universities in Plovdiv,
    • The agri-business sector.

    In her welcoming speech for the new academic year, Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boryana Ivanova highlighted the Agricultural University’s 80th anniversary, eight decades during which generations of lecturers, students, and alumni have built the university’s prestige with hard work, vision, and dedication, establishing its role as a guardian of tradition and a driver of modernisation.

    Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boryana Ivanova pointed out that Agricultural University is a member of UNIgreen, an Alliance of eight Higher Education Institutions that are committed to promoting excellence in education, research and innovation, and that are active in developing knowledge and solutions that give an answer to the needs of local communities.

    Assoc. Prof. Ivanova motivated the first-year students with the following words:

    By crossing the threshold of the Agricultural University, you are opening a new page filled with expectations, challenges, and new horizons. Here, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills but also grow as individuals, ready to face the future with courage and confidence. You are the future that gives meaning to our work. You are the heirs of a rich academic tradition, but also pioneers in a new era of sustainable development, digitalisation, and innovation. By entrusting yourselves to the Agricultural University, you are choosing the path of knowledge, but also the path of responsibility towards the land, nature, and society.

    With gratitude for their long-standing efforts and high professionalism, the Rector of the Agricultural University described the lecturers as the living heart of the university, who turn classrooms into laboratories of the future.

    In conclusion, Assoc. Prof. Ivanova shared with the audience:

    Today, more than ever, we face new challenges: climate change, food security, and digital transformation. Our response is the same as it has been for all these 80 years, knowledge, science, and work for the benefit of society and sustainable development.

    The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Assoc. Prof. Yanislav Yanchev advised the first-year students to use all the opportunities offered to them, to study, to travel, and to constantly expand their horizons.

    With best wishes for a successful career, Assoc. Prof. Yanchev handed the student record book to first-year student Emma Zafirova, who was admitted with the maximum score of 24.00 in the undergraduate programme “Agronomy (Field Crops).”

    The Mayor of Plovdiv Municipality, Mr. Kostadin Dimitrov, thanked the university for their stable partnership, stating:

    The Agricultural University is not just an educational institution but a driver of innovation, science, and economic development for the entire region. It maintains active ties with businesses, develops world-class scientific projects, and educates young people who go on to succeed not only in Bulgaria but also abroad.

    Ms. Tatyana Mihaylova, Executive Director of “Ekofol” JSC and a member of the AU Board of Trustees, urged the first-year students to study with zeal, dream boldly, and take their rightful place in the future of agriculture.

    It is a tradition at the Agricultural University for graduating students to pass on the symbols of fertility to the first-year students on the first day of the academic year. The graduate Nikolay Nedkov from the Faculty of Viticulture and Horticulture passed these symbols on to the first-year student Dzhani Tyufekchiev from the same faculty.

    The solemn atmosphere in the Assembly Hall was complemented by the emotional performances of the opera singer Denislava Staneva and the harmonious voices of the “Evmolpeya” Girls’ Choir.

    The academic leadership of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv wholeheartedly wishes all students, lecturers, and staff an inspiring and successful 2025/2026 academic year.

  • A new green area at UNIMORE for sustainability and biodiversity

    Unimore has opened a new green area at the Department of Engineering Enzo Ferrari – Modena Campus as a project for sustainability and biodiversity.

    On October 22, 2024, the inauguration of the new green area at the “Enzo Ferrari” Department of Engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia took place. The area is located in the courtyard of the Modena Technopole.

    The project, aimed at improving biodiversity and creating accessible spaces, aligns with the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in relation to the theme of “Sustainable Cities.”

    The initiative was made possible thanks to the crucial contribution of the Modena Foundation as part of the 2023 Green Public Spaces Call, an initiative that funded the redevelopment of public green spaces. The call allocated 300,000 euros for projects focused on creating open spaces accessible and usable by the community, with the goal of transforming them into places of social and cultural aggregation. 

    This project was also supported by the student representatives within Unimore’s Academic Bodies. 

    The design of the area prioritized the use of plant species typical of the Mediterranean region to enhance biodiversity within a context of environmental sustainability. A central feature of the park is the Weather Station, part of the Geophysical Observatory of Modena network, which has been collecting valuable data for years to study the local climate.

    The ceremony, introduced by Grazia Ghermandi, Unimore’s Delegate for Sustainability and member of UNIgreen WP6 was attended by the Rector of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Carlo Adolfo Porro, the Mayor of Modena Massimo Mezzetti, and Matteo Tiezzi, President of the Modena Foundation. 

    After the official greetings, the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, followed by a guided tour of the green area, during which the main elements of the project, such as the plant species and the Weather Station, were illustrated.

    “This green area is a concrete expression of our University’s commitment to sustainability and the care of spaces dedicated to our community,” emphasized Unimore Rector, Prof. Carlo Adolfo Porro. “Thanks to our collaboration with the Modena Foundation, we have created a space that promotes biodiversity and offers a quality environment for those who study and work there. The Weather Station, located within the park, continues to collect valuable data for climate research, a topic that is increasingly relevant. This space, far from being just a simple garden, is a resource for the entire city and for those who participate in academic life every day. The University will continue to carry out projects that enhance the territory and improve the quality of life for everyone.”

  • A Seminar “Women and Girls in Science” at AUP

    On February 12, 2026, at 09:00 a.m., a seminar dedicated to “Women and Girls in Science” was held at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. The event was organized as a joint initiative of UNIgreen and the Agricultural University- Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was part of the celebration of the International Week of Women and Girls in Science and aimed to highlight the contribution of women to scientific knowledge, innovation, and societal development.

    The seminar was opened by Prof. Dr. Dimo Atanasov, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, who emphasized the importance of such initiatives in promoting equality, inspiration, and the visibility of women within the scientific community.

    During the event, Senior Lecturer Emilia Koycheva from the Department of Language Training and Sport, member of WP5, introduced the audience to notable Bulgarian women scientists, highlighting their contributions to various scientific fields and to the development of science both nationally and internationally.

    A key highlight of the program was the presentation by Associate Prof. Dr. Rositsa Beluhova, member of W2, on the work of Elinor Ostrom – the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. She examined Ostrom’s pioneering contribution to the governance of common resources and the significance of her research for sustainable development and institutional governance.

    Dr. Angel Marinov, member of WP9, also actively participated in the discussions, offering an insightful comparison between past and present generations, emphasizing changing values, societal attitudes, and the growing role and importance of women in science.

    The event concluded with a lively discussion moderated by Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Krum Hristov, member of WP 5, during which participants discussed the challenges faced by women in science, career development opportunities, and the prospects for building a more inclusive academic environment.

  • All PUC Schools once again awarded Eco-Schools Green Flag

    All the Organic Teaching Units of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra (PUC) were once again awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag this year, thereby renewing PUC’s Eco-Polytechnic status.

    Higher Education Institutions can be one of the main agents of change in the mindsets and behaviours needed to transition to more sustainable practices, which go far beyond the simple use of resources, requiring a real transformation in management, teaching, learning and interaction with local communities.

    The Polytechnic of Coimbra has excelled in the area of environmental sustainability. This recognition is awarded by the National Coordination of the Eco-Schools Program on behalf of the Blue Flag Association of Environment and Education (ABAAE).

  • Annual STEBA–UNIgreen PhD Programme Workshop

    On 19 December 2025, the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) in Reggio Emilia hosted the Annual STEBA–UNIgreen PhD Programme Workshop (Advancing Sustainable Agri-Food Research), a key academic event within the UNIgreen Alliance framework.

    Held at the Besta Pavilion, the workshop brought together faculty members, researchers, and doctoral candidates to review and discuss the annual research progress of PhD students enrolled in the Joint PhD Programme in Agri-Food Science, Technology and Biotechnology. The event represented an important milestone for monitoring research development, fostering scientific dialogue, and strengthening collaboration across the UNIgreen network.

    The workshop opened with institutional greetings from Prof. Fabio Licciardello, Coordinator of the STEBA Doctorate, and Prof. Lorena Rebecchi, Director of the Department of Life Sciences, highlighting the strategic importance of doctoral education within UNIgreen’s mission to support the Green Transition through excellence in research and innovation

    The scientific sessions were chaired by members of the STEBA doctoral board and affiliated researchers, ensuring rigorous academic discussion and interdisciplinary exchange throughout the day.

    The Annual Workshop is the moment when PhD candidates present and reflect on their yearly research results, covering a wide range of topics that mirror the multidisciplinary nature of the programme. Research presentations covered a wide range of topics, from sustainable agriculture and food innovation to biotechnology, nutrition, and green technologies.

    This diversity reflects the programme’s strong commitment to integrating basic and applied research, environmental sustainability, and industrial relevance.

  • Annual Summit held in Liège

    The second UNIgreen Annual Summit took place between the 7th and 9th February 2024, in Liège.

    All UNIgreen Alliance members were reunited for three days of intense work, discussions and proposals to bring the joint work plan forward.

    During this gathering, the UNIgreen General Assembly, Board of Directors, Scientific and Pedagogical Councils, and Management Panel met to debate, present updates and make important decisions about the future of the Alliance.

  • Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík

    Reykjavík will be hosting the next Arctic Circle Assembly.

    It is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more than 2000 participants from over 60 countries.

    The AUI has succeeded in proposing the “Preserving the Arctic: Challenges Ahead” session, which will focus on strengthening the local communities that are facing increased migration and urbanisation as the Arctic becomes more habitable.

    The rapidly changing Arctic has a global impact as many atmospheric events originate there, influencing weather patterns that contribute to extremes and accelerating migration.

    Registration is open for the 2024 Assembly until 14 October 2024.

  • Back to Roots Biology at Heart of Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

    Since the Neolithic Revolution, agriculture has fundamentally transformed human existence. By freeing people from the constant search for food, it has delivered two pivotal advantages: enhanced security and the gift of time. These changes enabled communities to settle, fostering the growth of cities and the pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and art (1). In this sense, agriculture stands as the cornerstone of civilization itself.

    Low relief from the Baths of Diocletian in Rome (300 AD)

    Yet, despite these monumental advances, modern agricultural practices now threaten the very foundations they helped build. Environmental degradation, risks to human and animal health, and climate instability challenge the sustainability of our societies.

    Restoring the importance of biology in agriculture can help to solve this ironic and urgent paradox.

    What are the Main Threats Posed by Modern Agriculture?

    Agriculture lies at the heart of both local and global environmental and health challenges vividly illustrated by the planetary boundaries’ framework proposed by Rockström in 2009 (2).

    At the local level, agricultural expansion disrupts biosphere integrity, directly threatening biodiversity by destroying habitats and disrupting the delicate interactions between species. The use of agricultural inputs further exacerbates these issues, releasing novel chemical entities into air, water, and soil (3). This diffuse pollution exposes both ecosystems and human populations to potentially harmful substances and complex mixtures, with unknown long-term health consequences.

    Update of the  planetary boundaries transgressed (2023).  Image from  Richardson et al. Sci Adv. 2023 Sep 15;9(37):eadh2458. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2458. Epub 2023 Sep 13. PMID: 37703365; PMCID: PMC10499318.

    These farming practices traps agriculture in a vicious cycle wherein intensive farming harnessing chemical prophylaxis, fertilization, and tillage degrade soil structure and fertility, necessitating even greater inputs of land and synthetic fertilizers to offset erosion and declining productivity.

    On a global scale, agriculture’s environmental footprint is highly concerning. Deforestation, soil degradation, production of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, livestocks and transport of crops and machines collectively account for an estimated 20% of human-induced CO₂ emissions, making agriculture a major driver of climate change (4).

    How did We Reach this Tipping Point?

    Over the past 10,000 years, humanity has transformed farming to sustain the dietary needs of 8 billion people. Looking back, this remarkable journey is marked by a constellation of empirical breakthroughs and scientific advancements, each contributing to the steady evolution of agriculture. From the domestication of plants and animals to the cutting-edge techniques of genetic breeding, every innovation has shaped the way we feed the world today.

    Many of these pivotal discoveries including crop rotation, fallow land, composting, and selective breeding have gradually enhanced agricultural productivity, all associated with fundamental biological principles. Yet, since the mid-19th century, a profound shift has reshaped farming. Chemistry and mechanization have overtaken biology as the driving forces behind agricultural expansion and intensification (5).


    The advent of synthetic fertilizers, the rise of conventional pesticides, and mechanized tilling have largely replaced farming practices. These innovations by propelling agriculture into the industrial era, enabled humanity to circumvent the biological constraints of sustainability, fundamentally altering our conception of farming, and transforming food from a natural resource into a commodity like any other.

    Are We Able to Change?

    Sustainable, resilient agriculture is a goal everyone supports, but can it be achieved without disrupting economic stability, reducing yields, or compromising food security? This is the defining challenge of our time. While the path is complex, there is reason for optimism. We can certainly make the bet that by democratizing knowledge, technology, and best practices, we can reconnect agriculture with biology and unlock transformative progress.

    Take soil management as a prime example. Modern farming has largely overlooked and often damaged the soil microbiome, the rich community of microorganisms that underpin soil health. Yet, recent research reveals these microbes as indispensable allies.

    They enhance crop growth, suppress plant diseases, and reduce the need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizers (6). Certain microbes even improve crop resilience to drought (7,8). Beyond the field, microbes preserve soil structure, prevent erosion, and help sequester carbon, directly contributing to climate change mitigation.       

    Microorganisms used in agriculture to support crop growth and protection. From left to right: Trichoderma, Penicillium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas

    These discoveries are grounded in empirical discoveries that received in recent years a fantastic level of refinement stemming from recent scientific research and innovations. For instance, breakthroughs in DNA sequencing now allow us to analyze microbial biodiversity with remarkable precision, speed, and affordability thereby revolutionizing our understanding of how microbes interact with soil and plants, and how this is important for enhancement of farming practices (8).

    The applications unfolding are vast and promising. Farmers will be enabled to access soil health diagnostics, manage microbial diversity, and make data-driven decisions by integrating microbiology to improve their practices, production quality and yields while spending less resources. By quantifying the status and functions of soil microbes, we can also create incentives for farmers to adopt practices that preserve soil health and reward stewardship fostering long-term sustainability.

    From nature-inspired biopesticides (such as plant extracts and beneficial microbes) for eco-friendly crop protection (9), to precision genome editing (like CRISPR) for resilient, high-yield crops (10), and microbiome engineering to restore degraded soils (12), biotechnologies hold great promise. Together, they can address the critical challenges of fertilization, pest control, and yield maintenance as agriculture transitions toward greener practices.

    Shifting the Balance

    Biology behaves like a “wild beast” in the way that living organisms possess the remarkable ability to respond to diverse cues in myriad ways. This inherent complexity that makes biological systems less predictable than physical or chemical phenomena made biology an outlier in the era of industrial productivism. Yet, today, we stand at a turning point where advances in scientific expertise and technology allow us to understand biology at every scale, macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular level, with unprecedented depth. Coupled with the power of machine and deep learning to process large datasets, we are equipped to address most intricate biological challenges.

    This convergence creates transformative opportunities to refine, sustain, and optimize the integration of biology into agroecological practices. But seizing these opportunities demands more than just capability. It requires courage stepping beyond the established frameworks of industrial agriculture, embracing trial and error, and sharing between all the actors the risks that come with innovation.

    Success will also hinge on collaboration. Farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders including consumers and politics must work together, co-creating knowledge and productive framework through participatory research. By confronting both the scientific and socio-economic complexities of this challenge, we can forge the legacy of a sustainable agriculture more extensively rooted in biology and ensure prosperity for future generations.

    About the Author

    This article was written by Dr. Patrick Gonzalez, PhD, Assistant Professor at SupBiotech Engineering School of Biotechnology, WP3 Research & Innovation Co-coordinator.

    Author’s research focuses on mechanisms of action and impacts of cytotoxic molecules from diverse origins (animal, plant, and microbial) and their biotechnological applications in the fields of health and environment.

    He is member of the LRPIA lab at SupBiotech. The LRPIA is drawing on its expertise in microbiology, cell biology, and meta-genomics to develop biocontrol solutions in agro-ecology, with the aim of reducing the use of phytosanitary inputs.

    Current projects focus on the use of a crop resource considered to be waste, rich in antimicrobial compounds, to combat fungal diseases. It seeks to characterize the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and impact of these compounds on soil health, in collaboration with farmers, and academic and industrial partners. This project is supported by the Normandy region and the European Union via FEADER funds.

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    7. Kuypers MMM, Marchant HK, Kartal B. The microbial nitrogen-cycling network. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2018 May;16(5):263-276. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro.2018.9. Epub 2018 Feb 5. PMID: 29398704.
    8. Stein LY. Agritech to Tame the Nitrogen Cycle. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2024 Mar 1;16(3):a041668. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041668. PMID: 37788889; PMCID: PMC10910340.
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    Pictures credits
    • Trichoderma: US Department of Agriculture’s Mycology lab at Wikipedia
    • Penicillium: Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org
    • Bacillus: Katherine Ogando at Wikipedia
    • Pseudomonas: pseudomonas.com

  • BIP ‘Alien species in forest ecology’ in SGGW

    A global perspective on alien tree species facing climate change

    Alien tree species – threat or opportunity?

    Discussions centred on the role of alien (introduced) tree and shrub species in habitats where humans have introduced them, intentionally or accidentally. This topic has been controversial for years. On one hand, these species are often blamed for displacing native flora; on the other hand, their rapid growth, resilience, and potential benefits in climate change are emphasised. It is important to note that not all alien species are invasive, and some can benefit our ecosystems.

    Participants in the program had the opportunity to learn about:

    • The biological basis and global consequences of alien species.
    • The growth potential of introduced tree species.
    • The regenerative capacity of alien species during the study of younger generations.
    • The impact of introduced animals on native ecosystems.
    • Approaches and methods for managing these issues in protected and regulated areas.

    The described BIP was implemented at the Faculty of Forestry of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), the supervisors were Dr. Wojciech Kędziora and Dr. Karol Bronisz, while the teaching staff were: Dr. Katarzyna Marciszewska, Dr. Artur Obidziński, Dr. Szymon Bijak, Dr. Dagny Krauze-Gryz and Dr. Karolina Jasińska. Students had the opportunity to listen to lectures by foreign professors: Manuela Abelho from Coimbra in Portugal and Kelly Marion from Liège in Belgium.