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CHIC scientists and artists meeting at Keygene
Scientists and artists meet at KeyGene -an independent biotechnology company- in Wageningen, last week.
The CHIC project aimed at implementing New Plant Breeding Techniques in chicory, in order to establish it as a multipurpose crop for sustainable molecular farming of products with consumer benefits. Chicory contains many healthy substances which can, for example, slow down the growth of fungi and bacteria. The crop is very difficult to breed using the current technologies, breeding, and selection, and it is also hard to increase production of the healthy components. New breeding techniques such as CRISPR-Cas can be used to develop new chicory varieties, which contain more fibers and components suitable for medicinal applications.
New approach
CHIC aims to implement innovative communication tools, including cultural communication and linking art to science, to improve understanding of New Plant Breeding Techniques by the public and for informed decision making.
Learn more: http://chicproject.eu/what-is-chic/
More news about this project:
What are New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs)?
New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs) are innovative tools that enable plant breeders to develop novel plant varieties that may provide solutions for environmental and food quality as well as food supply challenges.
Are you wondering why this European project is called CHIC?
CHIC is the Chicory Innovation Consortium. Its objective is to implement New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs) in chicory in order to establish it as a multipurpose crop for the production of health-related products.
Postdoctoral position available at Lille University
A postdoctoral position is available in the group Evolutionary genomics of plant mating systems of the Evolution, Ecology, and Paleontology laboratory of the Lille University, directed by Prof Dr Xavier Vekemans.