Rooted in plant science – sparking collaboration across disciplines
“The growing interest in nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture opens space for plant science to take a stronger role within One Health”, says Anna Manourova, coordinator at the Department of Biosystems and Technology and the plant science network PlantLink.
Could you provide a brief overview of PlantLink – What is it? What do you work with, what are the main objectives and expected outcomes?
“PlantLink is a plant science network established in 2011 as a collaboration between Lund University and SLU in Alnarp, with initial support from Region Skåne, and today brings together around 600 members. It was created to connect plant scientists across institutions in Southern Sweden, and over time expanded across the Øresund region. We are a unique platform bringing together researchers who would otherwise rarely sit at the same table.”
“Our core mission is simple: connect people, spark collaboration, and strengthen plant science across disciplines - from molecular biology to agroecology. PlantLink has funded 21 cross-university seed projects, five of which later developed into major grants, linked PhD students and postdocs with mentors outside academia, organised the annual PlantLink Day conferences, and continuously highlighted researchers and emerging ideas through interviews and newsletters.”
“PlantLink has also strengthened international engagement by supporting memberships in networks such as the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) and the Nordic-Baltic Plant Phenotyping Network (NBPPN), among others. In addition, it has served as a strategic contact node in initiatives like ScanOats and is currently involved in international projects including ADVALUE (Erasmus+), AgBio4SSA (NRF SDGs), and inSALSA (Biodiversa+). The latter two focus on agrobiologicals as sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals.”
“Since 2024, we have not had core funding, which forced us to scale down, but not to disappear! The network, collaborations, and trust built over more than a decade remain, and we are searching for solutions on how to keep this platform alive.”
How does the work at PlantLink relate to the One Health concept?
“Although PlantLink is rooted in plant science, we actively promote interdisciplinary collaboration in both research and education. Through initiatives such as PlantLink Day, we bring together researchers from different fields, along with industry partners, societal actors, and the broader public, to encourage systems thinking and move beyond the boundaries of any single discipline.”
“For example, our latest PlantLink Day, From Blindness to Awareness – Plant Research and Communication for a Greener Future, brought together fundamental plant research and art-based approaches to explore how humans notice and relate to plants. By connecting science, communication, and society, we show that plant research is never isolated - it is directly linked to ecosystem resilience, sustainable agriculture, and human well-being.”
What are some key challenges and opportunities in this research field in relation to One Health.
“One key challenge for us is that plant science is often overlooked. Many young people are naturally drawn to medicine, business, or technology, while plants remain somewhat “in the background,” despite their fundamental role in our lives. That’s why PlantLink has invested a lot in outreach, working with schools and gymnasiums, and until now, hosting summer scholarships for high school students through Forskningsnätet Skåne.”
“At the same time, there are exciting opportunities. The growing interest in nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture opens space for plant science to take a stronger role within One Health. We see this in the interdisciplinary projects we are currently involved in, where natural and social scientists, industry partners, and other stakeholders work together in living labs. These collaborations show that plant-based solutions can address environmental, societal, and health challenges at the same time.”
“Ideally, the next step would be to build on PlantLink’s legacy and develop it into a more permanent hub, a place where plant science can continue to connect people across disciplines.”
Any upcoming activities in PlantLink that you would like to highlight?
“We started planning our annual PlantLink Day, which will take place at the beginning of December. However, the big news is that we recently joined forces with the SLU and Sparbanken Skåne Centre for Sustainable Primary Production, and we are excited to see where this collaboration will lead!”
“As part of this, we will contribute to a conference on 25 November. The ambition is to bring together around 300 participants and move slightly beyond the classical conference format, creating more space for interaction, dialogue, and shared learning. More information will be coming soon!”