Broad Support for Increased National Collaboration in Plant Research
As of March 10 2025, Belgium has a national network for plant scientists: the Belgian Plant Science Community (BPSC). More than 100 leading Belgian researchers from prominent research institutions and government agencies gathered at Meise Botanic Garden to shape the future of plant research in Belgium.
The attendees represented a wide range of universities, research institutes, and policy bodies, including KU Leuven, UGent, ULiège, ULB, UCLouvain, VIB, Meise Botanic Garden, ILVO, INBO, Hasselt University, Thomas More, VITO, CRA-W, the Flemish and federal governments, and various practice and trial centers such as Proefcentrum Hoogstraten and Inagro. This broad engagement demonstrates the strong support for the creation of a national community for plant researchers in Belgium.
Belgium has a strong reputation in plant research, but collaborations between institutions have so far often been limited to individual projects. The BPSC aims to change this by establishing a structured network where researchers and knowledge institutions can collaborate more effectively. The initiators of the BPSC – the KU Leuven Plant Institute, Meise Botanic Garden, VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, TERRA (ULiège), and ULB – emphasize that close collaboration is essential to maximize the scientific and societal impact of plant research.
“The strong turnout today proves that the Belgian plant research community is ready for a new era of collaboration,” stated Prof. Filip Rolland (KU Leuven Plant Institute). “By establishing this community, we can promote joint research projects, strengthen scientific excellence, and develop innovative solutions to challenges like climate change and sustainable food production.”
International Inspiration and Future Plans
During the event, international speakers from similar networks, such as CropXR (Netherlands) and SFBV (France), shared inspiring examples of how collaboration platforms in plant sciences can lead to groundbreaking results.
Jérémy Lothier (SFBV, France):
"Establishing a strong scientific community is essential to drive innovation and collaboration. In France, we’ve seen through SFBV how a structured network can bring together researchers from different disciplines and increase the visibility of plant research. I’m convinced that the Belgian Plant Science Community has the same potential to become a powerful platform, not only within Belgium but also internationally."
Richard Immink (CropXR, Netherlands):
"The power of collaboration cannot be underestimated. At CropXR, we’ve experienced how combining expertise in plant research, data science, and technology leads to innovative breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture. The Belgian Plant Science Community has a unique opportunity to combine scientific excellence with societal impact, and I’m excited to see how this network will evolve in the coming years."
In the afternoon, participants discussed the future of the BPSCand defined concrete goals and defined priorities. Working groups will be formed around themes such as research funding, policy impact, and international collaboration.
With the successful launch of the BPSC, a strong foundation has been laid for a thriving community of plant researchers in Belgium. In the coming months, the network will continue to grow, with regular meetings and strategic collaborations to further elevate Belgian plant research.