News and events | Root2Res

ISRR to Host Online Mini Symposium on Root and Rhizosphere Research

Jan 27, 2026 | event

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The International Society of Root Research (ISRR) will host its Mini Symposium on January 28th. This online event will bring together leading researchers from around the world to present and discuss the latest discoveries in root and rhizosphere science.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

The symposium will feature a series of insightful talks and dynamic discussions covering a broad range of topics, including:

Root anatomy and architecture
Roots and ecosystem functions
Rhizosphere interactions and signalling
Phenotyping method development
Root modelling
Roots in Sub-Saharan Africa
Root systems biology

This event offers a valuable opportunity to engage with international experts and gain up-to-date insights into cutting-edge research in the field. Discover the full programme here.

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

Nov 7, 2025 | event

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by Teagasc. The event brought together all project partners to review progress, discuss future objectives, and prepare for the upcoming second reporting period.

Tuesday – November 4th

The Assembly kicked off at Teagasc Oak Park, where participants were warmly welcomed by John Spink, Head of the Environment, Crops and Land Use Programme at Teagasc. The opening session continued with introductions from Jean-Pierre Cohan, Root2Res Project Coordinator, and Tim George, Deputy Coordinator.

Subsequently, Work Package Leaders (1–6) presented their latest updates, followed by a series of breakout discussion sessions organized by crop groups. Participants also enjoyed a guided tour of the Oak Park research facilities, exploring firsthand the pioneering research efforts underway at Teagasc.

Wednesday – November 5th

The second day of the Assembly was equally productive and insightful. Participants visited Johnstown Castle in Wexford, where two interactive sessions were held, focusing on data analysis and the application of artificial intelligence. The day concluded with a guided tour of the castle and Teagasc laboratories and field infrastructure.

Thursday – November 6th

On the final day, activities returned to the Oak Park facilities, featuring presentations from Work Packages 7 and 8 and a third interactive session on scientific publications. The event concluded with a collaborative discussion outlining the project’s next steps.

We extend our sincere thanks to Teagasc for their excellent organization and warm hospitality throughout the event. With the successful completion of the 3rd General Assembly, the consortium is now well-prepared to move into the next phase of the project and finalize the second reporting period.

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Jun 11, 2025 | event, News

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th June.

The session is entitled “Manipulating the rhizosphere with crop genetics” and will featured a keynote presentation given by our sister project coordinator Mette Vestergaard from Aarhus University. It will also include seven oral presentations, with contributions from both Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed.

In addition, the session will showcase 20 poster presentations highlighting further research and insights.

Registration is still open. Read more about the conference here.

Get to know our speakers

Discover the participants of this session, their backgrounds, and innovative research down below:

Menghui Dong

Researcher, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Check his abstract here

Lionel Dupuy

Nekier, Spain
Check his abstract here

Mette Vestergård

Head of Section for Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Aarhus University
As keynote speaker for the session, Mette will present insights into manipulating the rhizosphere through crop genetics.
Check her abstract here

Tim George

Rhizosphere Scientist and professor at The James Hutton Institute, UK
Check his abstract here

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

May 21, 2025 | News

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant breeding: root ideotypes and plasticity. These terms are sometimes seen as contradictory, but in this episode, we explore how they can work together to create more resilient and adaptive crops in the face of climate change.

In this episode, our guests Doris Vetterlein from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Germany and Pete Berry from ADAS, UK join Laura Kemper, from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, to discuss what ideotypes are and how they function in specific environments.

They also dive into the concept of plasticity, a key mechanism that allows plants to adapt to changing conditions. The conversation unpacks the challenges of breeding for resilience in an unpredictable climate.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

Listen to the podcast here:

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe to hear more from the Root2Resilience project. If you have questions, comments, or topic suggestions, feel free to reach out to us via email – we’d love to hear from you.

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Further Resources

To support this episode, we’ve gathered key materials to help you explore these concepts in depth:

Priority list of root/rhizosphere ideotype traits (Deliverable 1.1)
Statistical evaluation for plasticity & experimental systems (Deliverable 5.1)
How to calculate root phenotypic plasticity (Practice abstract)
Studying root plasticity under controlled conditions (Practice abstract)
Roots in policy: Encouraging breeding for root-related traits (Practice abstract)
Root2Res on Cordis

Introducing the Root2Res Podcast: Root Phenotyping and Genetic Improvement for a Resilient Future

Apr 14, 2025 | News

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The Root2Res podcast kicks off by diving into the heart of the project’s mission: enhancing crop resilience through innovative root system research.

In this introductory episode, project coordinators Jean-Pierre Cohan and Timothy George share how the Root2Res initiative came to life, how the consortium was formed, and what drives this ambitious effort. They walk through the project’s core objectives, planned activities, and the significance of this work in addressing climate challenges.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

Future episodes will take a deeper dive into the concepts and methods developed within Root2Res. presented in an accessible way for researchers, breeders, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture.

Listen to the podcast here:

Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest episodes, insights and discussions as we uncover the potential of root phenotyping and genetic improvement in the face of environmental change.

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Mar 12, 2025 | event

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This international conference, organized by the University of Edinburgh, will bring together researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in the field of rhizosphere. The event will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and will highlight the role of rhizosphere research in addressing global challenges.

The conference program is structured around three key themes: Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Climate. Each session will integrate two of these themes, fostering comprehensive discussions on plant-soil interactions in the context of environmental change. This interdisciplinary approach will promote collaboration and provide insights into the interconnected challenges of agriculture and ecosystem sustainability.

Several Root2Res partners will contribute to the conference:

Davide Bulgarelli (University of Dundee, UK) will deliver a plenary talk on Engineering the Rhizosphere.
Doris Vetterlein (UFZ, Germany) will give a keynote presentation on Legacy Effects of the Rhizosphere.
Eva Oburger (BOKU, Austria) will give a keynote presentation on Rhizosphere and Resilience to Abiotic Stress.
Lionel Dupuy (Nekier, Spain) will give a keynote presentation on Imaging the Rhizosphere.

Additionally, Root2Res will co-host a joint session with our sister project Barley MicroBreed, titled Manipulating the Rhizosphere with Crop Genetics, led by Mette Vestergaard (Aarhus University, Denmark).

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Early bird registration for Rhizosphere 6 is open until March 31, 2025. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking event. Attendees are encouraged to register before the deadline to take advantage of discounted rates. Join us in Edinburgh for an inspiring exchange of ideas, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of how rhizosphere research can address challenges in agriculture, biodiversity, and climate.

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

Dec 16, 2024 | News

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA) in Rennes on August 29, 2024, are now available for viewing.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

During this event, Root2Res showcased four presentations focused on the development of climate-resilient crop systems through innovative root traits. These insightful sessions covered key aspects of the Root2Res project:

Introduction: an overview of Root2Res project.
Ideotypes Definition and Testing, by Christina Baxter (ADAS, UK).
Plasticity of Traits and Its Use to Study the Rhizosphere, by Jean-Pierre Cohan (ARIVALIS, Coordinator of Root2Res).
Root Phenotyping Toolbox for More Resilient Crops, by Katia Beauchêne (ARIVALIS)

You can now find these presentations on our Zenodo Community or you can simply access Zenodo through our Knowledge Center page.

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Dec 10, 2024 | event, News

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour of the World Soil Day, was successfully organized by FEUGA on December 5th in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. With over 50 participants the event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of soil quality preservation and showcasing the latest innovative practices, with a special focus on their application in Galicia.

Key Themes Discussed

During the event, experts from Galicia’s three public universities presented their involvement in key European projects: AGROSUS, SoildiverAgro, MRV4SOC, FIREPOCTEP+, SUS-SOIL, AF4EU, DRYAD, MAR2PROTECT, and ALERT-PFAS. Innovative strategies and solutions to challenges such as carbon agriculture, biodiversity measurement, and the identification of contamination sources, with concrete results applicable to the local context, were discussed in two different roundtables.

In one of these panel discussions, our partner member and researcher at Universidade de Vigo, Adela Sánchez Moreiras participated as a speaker. During her presentation she had the opportunity to talk about Root2Res’s objectives and latest developments. She also actively engaged in the following discussion, adding valuable insights to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable soil management.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

Root2Res at Soil Hub Fair

The day concluded with the Soil Hub Fair, an interactive initiative where participants had the opportunity to discover success stories, explore project ideas, and establish key connections in the sustainable soil management field.

Root2Res was pleased to participate in the Soil Hub Fair, presenting a poster and contributing to the vibrant discussions around soil sustainability.

On this World Soil Day, we reaffirm our commitment to raise awareness and promote solutions for healthy and resilient soils. Take a look at the photos taken during the event!

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Root2Res Joins the EU CAP Network: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

Dec 3, 2024 | News

We are pleased to announce that Root2Res has become a member of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Network, a distinguished collaborative platform that brings together national CAP networks, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. This forum serves as a hub for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions in the field of sustainable agriculture. It plays a key role in supporting the implementation of CAP strategic plans that promote the advancement of agriculture, forestry, rural development, and environmental sustainability across Europe.

As a new member, Root2Res is committed to leveraging its expertise to support the goals of climate neutrality, reduce nutrient losses and fertilizer dependency, and enhance the management of natural resources.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

We will actively upload our practice abstracts and other publications to the EU CAP Network, which access you can also find in our knowledge center page. If you are committed to sustainable agriculture, forestry, and rural development in Europe, we encourage you to join the EU CAP Network and help us shape the future of agriculture and rural development through this collaborative platform.

Discover our EU CAP profile and stay tuned for more updates on Root2Res contributions to this important network.

Root2Res 3rd General Assembly: Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Crops

This week, the ROOT2RES Project successfully held its 3rd General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by...

Root2Res joins BarleyMicrobreed to host a joint session at the Rizosphere 6 Conference 2025

Root2Res and BarleyMicrobreed are hosting a joint session at the upcoming Rhizosphere 6 conference held in Edinburgh on 16th-19th...

New Root2Res Podcast Episode: Exploring Root Ideotypes and Plasticity for Resilient Agriculture

We’re excited to release the second episode of the Root2Res Podcast, where we take a closer look at two key concepts in plant...

Root2Res will be participating in Soil Hub Fair at “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia” event on December 5th

Nov 28, 2024 | News

Root2Res is pleased to participate in Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia event on December 5th in Santiago de Compostela. Held in honour of World Soil Day, the event will highlight key European research advancements in soil health, including carbon farming, biodiversity measurement indicators, and pollution source identification. With a focus on the Galician region in northern Spain, the event aligns with Root2Res’ work, as Galicia is home to our laboratories where we conduct research in controlled field conditions, advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

In honour of World Soil Day and to raise awareness about the importance of soil preservation in Galicia, the event’s lead organizer, FEUGA, has prepared a series of activities aimed at promoting knowledge transfer and showcasing innovative practices.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The project

One of these key activities is the Soil Hub Fair, an exceptional networking opportunity designed to foster collaboration among various projects and initiatives dedicated to soil health and sustainability. It will feature a dynamic and interactive format, including posters, booths, flash talks, and practical workshops. Root2Res is excited to contribute by sharing its expertise and innovative practices in soil health with attendees, while also creating synergies between experts and projects in the field.

We can’t wait to be part of this exciting event! Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s celebrate World Soil Day together.