From Nantes to university classrooms: BOOSTER shares advances in drought-resilience research (EPIPLANT 2026)

In June 2026, BOOSTER-related research was presented at EPIPLANT 2026, an international scientific meeting on plant epigenetics held in Nantes, France. The conference brought together researchers working on plant epigenetics, gene regulation and plant responses to environmental conditions, providing a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and explore new scientific connections.​

An oral presentation entitled “Pan-cistrome analysis: Quantifying (epi-)genetic variation influencing transcription factor binding sites”, authored by Julia Engelhorn and an international team of researchers, explored how genetic and epigenetic variation can influence the binding of transcription factors, which play a central role in regulating gene activity. This research is closely linked to BOOSTER’s efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to drought and identify genetic features that could contribute to improved crop resilience.

Beyond the presentation, the conference opened opportunities for further scientific exchange. Discussions with Maike Stam and Maira Dourado, associated with the EpiSeedLink project, focused on the potential application of differential MOA-seq analysis methods developed within BOOSTER to other plant species, including canola. Follow-up exchanges were planned to share these methodologies and explore their wider applicability, demonstrating how tools developed within BOOSTER could support research beyond the project’s target crops, maize and teff.

Alongside these scientific activities, BOOSTER researchers are contributing to education and capacity building. At the University of Düsseldorf (UDUS), Thomas Hartwig, Sohini Mukherjee and Sergius Weizel are delivering a four-week Bachelor’s teaching module entitled “How to engineer drought tolerant plants”, introducing third-year students to scientific approaches for understanding and improving plant responses to water stress.

BOOSTER has also reached Master’s students in Plant Biology at the University of Montpellier. During a lecture on grant writing held on 21 September 2026, the project was presented as an example of a collaborative, multinational research initiative focused on crop improvement, illustrating how international partnerships can combine complementary expertise to address complex agricultural challenges.

From sharing research methods with fellow scientists to bringing drought-resilience research into university classrooms, these activities show how BOOSTER’s work is reaching beyond the consortium, creating opportunities for scientific exchange and engaging the next generation of plant researchers.