Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "Celery waste: a source of biostimulants and biopesticides" "Sven Mangelinckx" "Department of Green Chemistry and Technology" "The research project aims at the exploration of celery waste material as source of biostimulants and biopesticides. In the first part, the biostimulant activity of aqueous extracts is assessed (in collaboration with partners) and the primary metabolites composition evaluated. In the second part, different green extraction techniques are explored, and secondary metabolites with potential agricultural applications, are identified and quantified.  " "The effects of biostimulants on the growth and physiological parameters of selected species of energy crops" "Environmental Biology, Marie Curie-Sklodowska University" "Biostimulants are substances that support plant growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. They are characterized by a wide range of action, including changes in gene expression, the concentrations of metabolites in plant cells, as well as changes in soil properties and the diversity and abundance of the microbiome. The use of these agents in the cultivation of energy crops in metal-polluted soil, can result in higher yields (which will translate into greater profits for farmers), as well as more effective land cleansing in the phytoremediation process. Biostimulants can also increase the activity of the endophytic and rhizospheric/bulk soil microbiomes and diversify the physiological groups of microorganisms. The planned research may result in the development of a strategy for growing energy crops in polluted areas using biostimulants, knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of action of biostimulants on plant growth and their tolerance to metals (through analysis of the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the antioxidant system) and their impact on the composition and properties of the microbiome inhabiting the rhizosphere and plant tissues." "The effects of herbicides and plant biostimulants on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – role of the plant microbiome" "Jaco VANGRONSVELD" "Environmental Biology, Agricultural University of Plovdiv" "The Research Council of Hasselt University approved the stay of Dobrinka Balabanova (Agricultural University, Bulgaria). During this stay, Dobrinka Balabanova will perform research in cooperation with the research group CMKMB." "Discovery and mode of action of novel plant biostimulants derived from agricultural waste streams." "Danny Geelen" "Department of Plants and Crops" "The demand towards circular economy for sustainable agriculture requires a rapid growth market of plant biostimulants. We aim to discover add-valued bioactive reagents that benefit plants derived from agricultural waste streams including by-products of sunflower and chicory. The mechanism of action and efficiency optimization of novel biostimulants from sunflower will be demonstrated for further field application." "Development of biostimulants and biocontrol agents from the waste streams of dry peas and fibre flax" "Geert Haesaert" "Department of Plants and Crops" "The project wants to develop biostimulants and/or biological crop protection agents from waste streams of the processing of dry peas and fibre flax. To this end, extracts will be made from the waste streams that will be screened at both laboratory and field level. Extracts with a high biological activity will serve as a basis for IP development and will be further developed into commercial products in follow-up projects." "Exploring novel biostimulants from marine organisms and their modus operandi to improve growth and yield of rice" "Stephen Depuydt" "Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics" "The identification of novel, natural plant growth regulators fits well with the concept of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, we will conduct a compound screen on a collection of natural marine extracts and investigate how they enhance plant growth, which is currently unexplored. Next to that, we will unravel the structure of the molecule and try to commercialize the product. These experiments will be carried out in rice as a model crop."