Plant-microbe interactions and plant genetics

To sustain life and its quality on Earth, the EU has established several initiatives for the implementation of the Green Deal: Zero Pollution Action Plan, Farm to Fork and Green Deal Industrial Plan, among many others. All of these require significant innovation, based on new knowledge and skills – research, training and education – coupled with industry adaptation, civil society engagement and smart regulation, which is a challenge globally. More importantly, we need significantly more people who can carry out this innovation. The main objective of “Innovative Chemistry and Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future” (INNOCHEMBIO) is to train future experts of sustainable chemistry and biotechnology, helping Europe to take the next steps in the green transition. The solutions and trained experts can reduce the environmental impact of the chemical and agricultural industries, offer eco-friendly analytical techniques, and assess the safety of new materials. This will be achieved through interdisciplinary research projects in an international research environment, collaboration with the industry, the public sector and the civil society, via a comprehensive quadruple-helix based training programme. As a result, our graduates will not only become experts in their respective fields, but leaders and spokespersons. Eventually, through dedicated career planning, we provide skilled workforce to all 4 sectors of the helix. INNOCHEMBIO is an international consortium led by TalTech, with over 100 years of experience in chemistry and biotechnology research and training. INNOCHEMBIO will achieve its objectives by recruiting 15 PhD candidates in up to two calls offering fellowships for 48 months. During this period, the candidates will receive discipline specific training both in Estonia and abroad by working on their research project; broader training through courses offered at TalTech and by our partners; and experience working in the private sector.

TAIM brings together plant biology expertise and infrastructure in Estonian R&D institutions, serving as a platform for fundamental and applied plant science and offering services in the fields of plant biology and plant valorization. TAIM supports research-based knowledge generation for plant breeding and growth practices, contributing to sustainable agriculture, plant valorization and food production. TAIM supports adoption of new breeding techniques and food quality analyses. The aims of TAIM are to 1) support local smart food production from soil and seeds to food by creating opportunities for modern plant breeding and analyses of plants, plant-related microbes and food quality; and 2) improve research-based knowledge generation for plant breeding and growth via adoption of modern phenotyping and digital analysis techniques, allowing to assess the effect of climate change on food production and contributing to smart sustainable agriculture.

TAIM brings together plant biology expertise and infrastructure in Estonian R&D institutions, serving as a platform for fundamental and applied plant science and offering services in the fields of plant biology and plant valorization. TAIM supports research-based knowledge generation for plant breeding and growth practices, contributing to sustainable agriculture, plant valorization and food production. TAIM supports adoption of new breeding techniques and food quality analyses. The aims of TAIM are to 1) support local smart food production from soil and seeds to food by creating opportunities for modern plant breeding and analyses of plants, plant-related microbes and food quality; and 2) improve research-based knowledge generation for plant breeding and growth via adoption of modern phenotyping and digital analysis techniques, allowing to assess the effect of climate change on food production and contributing to smart sustainable agriculture.