International Day of Plant Fascination

As part of the International Day of Plant Fascination, celebrated on May 18 through an initiative promoted by the Portuguese Society of Plant Biology, we highlight the essential role of plants as the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, food production, and environmental sustainability. In the face of increasingly challenging climate change scenarios, understanding how plants respond to stress factors such as drought and extreme temperatures is crucial to ensure agricultural resilience and food security.

At CITAB, we have been developing research focused on plant adaptation to climate change and on mitigation strategies to enhance resilience, particularly to water stress, in agricultural species, including fruit crops, grapevine, and horticultural species. Among the approaches under development are the creation of novel natural biostimulants to improve plant tolerance to adverse conditions and the development of sustainable biopesticides for the biocontrol of pests and diseases. These innovative solutions aim to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient agriculture, better prepared for future environmental challenges.