Wageningen Plant Research

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Wageningen Plant Research (WPR) conducts broad, applied scientific research into plants and their interaction with the environment – from the cellular to the system level. We apply plant science to support sustainable food production, biodiversity and a healthy living environment. This way, the institute contributes to sustainable agriculture and global food security through innovations in plant production and crop health. WPR also serves as a national knowledge centre and manages, among other things, the Dutch genebank for crops.

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Our locations

Wageningen Plant Research has multiple locations, all over The Netherlands.

Main locations

Trial sites

About Wageningen Plant Research

Our research spans the full spectrum from fundamental plant science to practical solutions. We combine disciplines such as genetics, crop science, plant health, data science and systems thinking. WPR researchers work in advanced laboratories and greenhouses as well as in field trials at experimental farms. This integrated approach generates both fundamental insights and directly applicable innovations – for instance, new resistant crop varieties and smart cultivation methods that support sustainable agriculture and global food security.

WPR works closely with a wide range of (inter)national partners to maximise impact, for example through participation in EU research consortia. We conduct independent research driven by market needs and societal challenges, collaborating with agricultural entrepreneurs, breeding companies, government bodies (including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature – LVVN – and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority), NGOs and other research institutes. Through these partnerships, scientific findings are rapidly translated into practice. WPR is active in national and international networks and public–private partnerships to ensure that our knowledge benefits society and aligns with the needs of the field.

WPR is strongly involved in education and talent development. Our researchers lecture in Wageningen degree programmes and supervise students during internships and PhDs. We offer practical internships and graduation projects for students, and WPR experts share their knowledge with professionals through courses, workshops and in-company training – contributing to lifelong learning in the sector. Through Wageningen Academy and other continuing education programmes, WPR helps ensure that up-to-date scientific knowledge reaches professionals in the field.

Wageningen Plant Research was formed through the merger of several Wageningen plant research institutes. Parts of WPR were previously known under names such as Plant Research International (PRI) and Applied Plant Research (PPO). Close cooperation with the fundamental research of Wageningen University’s chair groups ensures a strong link between fundamental and applied research within Wageningen University & Research.

Our laboratories and research processes meet strict national and international quality standards. Where relevant, our testing facilities are accredited – for example, for plant disease diagnostics. WPR operates independently and transparently; for certain core tasks, such as the national management of plant genetic resources (CGN), WPR has been officially designated.