The principles of plant life
Freiburg, 07/08/2025
The DataPLANT consortium, led by the University of Freiburg, has been developing an infrastructure for the huge amounts of data used in modern plant research since 2020. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has now extended its funding for the project until 2028.
Modern plant research is dedicated to the molecular principles of plant life that determine, for example, growth, crop yield, and biomass production. In this way, it contributes to food security and supply for the growing world population, even against the backdrop of climate change. Research using modern measurement methods generates large and complex amounts of data. To collect and make this data available, the DataPLANT consortium has been developing a national service and data infrastructure since 2020.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has now extended its funding for the project in a second round: the consortium will receive an additional 4.7 million euros until 2028. The consortium is led by the University of Freiburg and is one of nine consortia participating in the National Data Infrastructure Initiative (NFDI). Partner institutions include the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau. The consortium also brings together many working groups involved in plant research in Germany.
“Over the past five years, we have already been able to provide a productive version of the PLANT DataHUB as a research data management framework in accordance with the ARC standard. This offers the integration of workflow systems such as Galaxy and the option of direct data publication. In addition, a range of tools have been developed that can handle ARCs, known as Annotated Research Contexts, and support researchers throughout the entire data lifecycle,” says Dr. Dirk von Suchodoletz from the University of Freiburg’s Computer Center and spokesperson for DataPLANT.
Democratization of research data
In order to better understand the principles and functioning of plant life, researchers from various disciplines are working together to analyse, among other things, the natural genetic diversity and evolution of plants. The data collected is often processed and interpreted using computers. Scientists rely on effective research data management such as the collection, exchange and processing of research data. Since there has been no corresponding national infrastructure until now, the DataPLANT consortium aims to close this gap. It will enable the exchange of interdisciplinary expertise and the linking of different analytical results, thereby contributing to the democratisation of research data.
“We are delighted with our success in the second funding round. This will enable us to focus on the broad publication of research data in accordance with the ARC Research Object Crate (RO-Crate) standard and achieve a sustainable foothold in the core community and beyond,” says Prof. Dr. Ralf Reski from the Chair of Plant Biotechnology at the University of Freiburg and member of the Senior Management Board of DataPLANT. This will lead to increased use of so-called data stewards, experts who work in individual groups on site to help collect and document the data generated according to uniform criteria. This initiative is intended to significantly strengthen German plant research and further improve its position in international competition.