Ghent University, ILVO, and Protealis partner to develop virus-resistant pea varieties, tackling key agricultural challenges.
This collaboration represents a major step toward supporting farmers, boosting yields, and advancing sustainable plant-based protein production.
Peas play a vital role in sustainable agriculture, offering both nutritional benefits and improving soil health through nitrogen fixation. With the rising demand for plant-based proteins, addressing biotic stresses such as viral infections has become increasingly critical, according to a press release. In recent years, escalating outbreaks of pea viruses in Flanders have led to significant yield losses and reduced farmer incomes.
The project aims to identify and collect virus-resistant pea accessions from around the world. Macarena Martin, a breeder at Protealis leading this PhD project, explains: “By mapping the genomic regions associated with virus resistance, this project aims to develop unique molecular markers that will accelerate breeding efforts. These advanced molecular tools will be integrated into Protealis’ breeding pipelines to develop high-yielding, virus-resistant pea varieties, addressing a key challenge for growers and contributing to more sustainable agriculture.”
Macarena Martin will be supervised by academic promotors Prof. Monica Höfte (Ghent University) and Dr. Kris De Jonghe (ILVO). The PhD project will commence on January 1, 2025, with financial support from VLAIO (the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and Protealis.
