GROWING LIFE
RG Growing Life
Sustainable and Resilient Agroecosystems
GROWING LIFE is committed to be a leader in agroecosystem resilience and disease control, exploring natural solutions, such as the use of biocontrol agents and non-chemical methods, while harnessing plant mechanisms and processes. The following three areas of action will be pursued:
1. Enabling top-down biological control of crop diseases
We aim to unravel plant-microbial interactions and communication to create biocontrol strategies to fight plant pathogens. We will explore the role of soil food-web complexity in natural regulation of agroecosystems and develop novel nanobiopesticides and eco-friendly methods using iRNA.
2. Improving bottom-up control of crop diseases
We aim to understand plant disease resistance and plant interactions with beneficial microbiota to develop strategies to enhance plant resistance to pathogens. By exploring the genetic basis of plant diversity and domestication effects we aim to create innovative tools against fungal and nematode pathogens.
3. Transforming agroecosystems for improved resilience
We aim to tackle challenges posed by global change to agriculture, using an integrated approach to improve agroecosystems and crop traits. Agroecological and cross-omics assessments on above- and below-ground components of biodiversity/function will be combined with machine learning to model interactions and counteract biotic and abiotic stressors.
OUR ONGOING PROJECTS
BactoCast
Bacterial ecology for chestnut production…
CBMA – EQUIPAR+2
National Investment to Strengthen Scientific Equipment…
miPEP2Protect
Exploring a non-mature miRNA-encoded peptide (miPEP)…
Olive4Cereals
By-products of olive pomace to increase the climate…
PhotoPharm
Photonic systems for agriculture: towards healthy…
RHIPL
Rhizosphere communication and interactions among…
STrengthS4WineChaiN
Scientific and technological synergies for the…
SuberSafe
Finding sustainable strategies for protecting cork oak…
VINNY
Advanced nano encapsulation of bio-based pesticides…
OUR TEAM
RG Growing Life
Sustainable and Resilient Agroecosystems
Manuela Costa
RG LEADERPlant Molecular Biology
Artur Conde
RESEARCHERPlant Biochemistry
Hernâni Gerós
RESEARCHER Plant Biochemistry
Richard Breia
RESEARCHER Plant Biochemistry
Rui Tavares
RESEARCHER Plant-Microbe Interaction
Sofia Costa
RESEARCHERNematode & Soil Ecology
Teresa Lino Neto
RESEARCHER Plant-Microbe Interaction
Viviana Martins
RESEARCHER Plant Biochemistry
Ana Catarina Marques
PhD STUDENTPlant Molecular Biology
Ana Rita Gonçalves
PhD STUDENTNematode & Soil Ecology
Carolina Duarte
PhD STUDENT Nematode & Soil Ecology
Carolina Silva Moreira
PhD STUDENTPlant Biochemistry
Gonçalo Marques
PhD STUDENTPlant Biochemistry
Hélder Badim
PhD STUDENTPlant Biochemistry
Hugo Ricardo Afonso
PhD STUDENTPlant Molecular Biology
Jorge Moutinho
PhD STUDENTMolecular Ecology
Mariana Silva
PhD STUDENTPlant-Microbe Interaction
Pedro Ferreira
PhD STUDENT Plant-Microbe Interaction
Rui Carvalho
PhD STUDENTNematode & Soil Ecology
Ana Sofia Teixeira
FELLOWBioactive Substances
Mariana Sousa
FELLOWNematode & Soil Ecology
Sara Coelho
FELLOWPlant Molecular Biology
