23.05.2025
The international Root-Benefit Symposium entitled "Strategies for Bridging Knowledge and Application" took place at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V. in Müncheberg from May 21 to 22, 2025. The two-day event brought together 90 scientists from all over Europe who addressed the question of how useful knowledge from research on the influence of microorganisms in soil on plant growth and health can be better utilized for agricultural practice.
At the symposium, new findings on the role of soil microorganisms for healthy plants, climate-adapted agriculture and sustainable yields were presented in the four thematic sessions ("Working Groups"). These included, for example, fungi that protect plants against diseases and microorganisms that can promote plant growth when there is a lack of nutrients.
Bridge between research and practice
A particular focus was on the question of how scientific findings can be transferred into agricultural practice - for example through new evaluation methods, data models or specific products such as microbial inoculants ("beneficial soil organisms") to improve plant growth. The fourth session also looked at how companies can use scientific research for innovation - for example in the field of sustainable agriculture.
Venue: ZALF in Müncheberg
The symposium was held at the ZALF research center in Müncheberg. Numerous presentations, poster contributions and discussions made it clear that the exchange between basic research and agricultural application is key to tackling challenges such as climate change, soil degradation and food security.
An EU-funded research network
The event coincided with the second annual meeting of the EU-funded COST Action research network Root-Benefit (Beneficial root-associated micro-organisms for sustainable agriculture) on May 23, 2025, at ZALF. The network aims to promote research on root-associated soil organisms, connect European researchers in the field, and improve the transfer of knowledge from research to society. COST is a European Union funding program for research and innovation networks.
Further information:
Root benefit:
https://www.root-benefit.eu/
Program of the Symposium:
https://www.root-benefit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/symposium_-final-programme-root.pdf
