This innovation consortium aims to develop and strengthen the agricultural and horticultural industry in Denmark. This should be done by developing techniques for breeding and development of a wide variety of plants and plant products.
The challenge
The agricultural and horticultural industry faces some major challenges. There are demands for an increased production for a rapidly growing population as well as demands for the production of healthier food, which must happen while taking into account a reduced environmental impact.
Last but not least we have to face the changing climatic conditions and the intensified global competition.
Tasks
AgroTech has the project management which includes four innovative areas:
- New techniques for quality improvement
- Interspecific hybrids
- Domestication and vernalisation
- Biological techniques for plant variety protection
Development prospects
Through this close research-, innovation- and business cooperation the vision is to contribute to ensure a strong and competitive agricultural and horticultural sector in Denmark.
Several companies within plants and plant production will benefit from the innovation the consortium will perform. The new knowledge aims at introducing new plants for food production as well as to produce health-promoting substances, medicine, bioenergy, industrial purposes, and more.
The results will also help with solutions for today’s major societal challenges such as public health, climate changes and environmental impact.
Facts
The consortium ”Innovative Plants” is a four-year project initial starting early 2011. The consortium has been granted by Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation and it is financed by the participating parties. The total budget is 27.8 million DKK. The parties are powerful companies within research, breeding, plant production and biotechnology.
Project Manager
- AgroTech – Danish Government Authorised Technology Service Institute working with business development and knowledge transfer in the field between biology and technology
Research partners
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Floriculture and Woody Plant Science
Companies
- Knud Jepsen A/S
- PKM A/S
- Graff Breeding A/S
- Graff Kristensen A/S
- Dow Agrosciences Denmark A/S
- Vitroform
Industry association
- Danish Horticulture