Workshop: Recent developments in the molecular mechanisms of plant biostimulants and their role in mitigating the effects of climate change

Summary

Climate change is predicted to increase the risk of stress induced oxidative damage in crops, resulting in extensive yield losses globally. This workshop will provide new insights into seaweed-based biostimulants and microbial-based technologies and their role in mitigating against the effects of climate change. A series of lectures will be delivered by experts from the biostimulant industry and by university researchers with expertise and practical experience in the areas covering abiotic/oxidative stress in crops and physiological and molecular level changes elicited by biostimulants to mitigate abiotic stress and crop losses. Furthermore, the workshop will demonstrate the benefits of these novel technologies under field conditions across a range of different crops, translating to an increased return on sustainable investment (ROSI) for the crop grower.

Lecturers and Topics include:

1. John T. O’Sullivan, CEO, BioAtlantis Ltd, Ireland: From planting to harvest: New ‘Priming’ technologies to mitigate abiotic stress and help crops reach their genetic potential.
2. Sujeeth Neerakkal, PhD, Head of Plant Research, BioAtlantis Ltd, Ireland: Current insights into the molecular mode of action of an Ascophyllum nodosum based biostimulant.
3. Mihail Angelov, Biologist, CPSBB, Bulgaria: Alleviation of heat-stress effects on tomato by seaweed extract application.
4. Aakansha Kanojia, PhD, Post-doctoral researcher, CPSBB, Bulgaria: SuperFifty® Prime combats drought stress in tomato plants (cv. Micro-Tom)
5. Rafe Lyall, PhD, Post-doctoral researcher, CPSBB, Bulgaria: Experimental design and bioinformatic analysis of biostimulant crop studies.
6. Fiaz Rasul, Plant Biologist, BioAtlantis Ltd, Ireland: SuperFifty® Prime based molecular priming reduces flood stress induced damage in Barley.
7. Andrés Bascopé, Chief Agronomist, BioAtlantis ltd, Ireland: Field level applications of biostimulants for reducing oxidative stress and to increase crop production.
8. Eduardo Donoso, R&D Director, Bio Insumos Nativa, Chile: Use of microorganisms in agricultural soil as a way to fight back global warming.

There is no charge for this workshop, which is being run as a part of the training activities of project RESIST.