It is important to understand as many factors as possible that help the plant adapt to changing conditions and thus ensure a supply for mankind. Through research, the basis for future-oriented food, feed and energy crops should be created. Therefore, different plant traits are analyzed which have a strong influence on growth, crop yield as well as the use of available resources. The long-term goal is to establish sustainable, resource-efficient plant production. In addition, novel training programs for students, PhD students and postdocs have been developed and established in the cluster. The Cluster of Excellence CEPLAS is a joint project of the Heinrich Heine University, the University of Cologne, the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research Cologne and the Research Center Jülich.
