Research Activities
The research activities of the Centre are aimed to:
• Exploit the opportunities offered by new disciplines (genomics, metabolomics, Big Data) for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying and the factors limiting plant productivity in the context of cereal and industrial systems
• By using interdisciplinary approaches, turn acquired scientific knowledge into innovative tools for genetic improvement and sustainable innovation in the framework of cereal and industrial systems and related supply chains.
Technology transfer of research results and other third mission activities with the involvement of stakeholders are directed to improve the competitiveness of agro-industrial supply chains,
Target species include the main cereals (durum and common wheat, maize, rice, barley, sorghum, oat, emmer, triticale), pseudo-cereals (quinoa) and industrial plants (potato, hemp, bean, sunflower, flax, thistle/cardoon, protein-rich pea, tobacco, industrial tomato, sugarbeet, rapeseed/canola, rucola/arugula, Indian mustard).
Genetic improvement of cereal and industrial crops
Environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and supply chain diversification require new genotypes of cereal and industrial crops. CREA-CI is the Centre of choice to develop breeding and pre-breeding activities on these species, and to implement programs for innovative varietal improvement with interdisciplinary approaches and breeding programs based on plant genomics and phenomics.
Sustainable management of cereal and industrial crop systems
In the near future it will be necessary to implement cereal and industrial crop systems capable of ensuring high productivity, efficiency, and biodiversity. Such systems, based on high performance closed-loop models for the use of matter (nutrients, organic matter etc.) and energy, should also be resilient and efficient in the exploitation of local resources. With an agro-ecological approach, the Centre studies the target crop systems and develops innovative solutions supporting productivityand securing environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Biomass and bio-based molecules from cereal and industrial species
In the present scenario of deep reorganization of the industrial systems, it is of the upmost importance to develop agro-industrial supply chains capable of harnessing all biomass components/fractions in a prospective of circular economy. The Centre studies and promotes conventional and alternative crops, including biomass crops, tor a better sustainability of cereal and industrial systems, for the development of bio-refinery processes integrated in the local area and to produce raw materials, biomolecules, and energy from renewable sources.
Abiotic and biotic stress resistance and adaptation
Considering the on-going climate change and the impact of current and emerging pathogens and pests on cereal and industrial systems, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying adaptation to those limiting factors (stress) to support genetic improvement and a sustainable system management. The Centre develops research aimed to disclose the genetic, physiologic and metabolomic basis of plant yield resilience to environmental stress, of water and nutrient use efficiency, especially nitrogen, and of plant-pathogen interaction.
Biodiversity preservation, exploration, and promotion
Reaching a better adaptation of cereal and industrial crops to climate change, in balance with a sustainable use of resources, can also be achieved by taking advantage of existing and newly created biodiversity. The Centre hosts the widest biodiversity collection of arable crops within CREA. The management of such collection allows its conservation and accessibility and the analysis of the genetic variability, especially of primary and secondary metabolites, for food, feed and non-food uses.
Traditional and innovative foodstuff of high nutritional value and safety
A supply chain –oriented Centre should meet the demand of research and innovation from the seed to the end-product reaching the final consumer. The Centre implements programs of nutritional, biochemical, and molecular characterization of functional molecules in target species. It studies the development of new products and food chains with high added value based on cereals, pseudo-cereals, and industrial plants. It also addresses agri-food chain tracking and food safety (e.g., mycotoxins in maize and other cereal seeds and fodder; glycoalkaloids and acrylamide in potato).
