Marleen Riemens appointed institute manager at Wageningen Plant Research
- dr.ir. MM (Marleen) Riemens, PhD
- Strategic advisor Plant Sciences
Per 1 March 2026, Marleen Riemens has been appointed Institute Manager of Wageningen Plant Research (WPR). She will join the management team with shared responsibility for leading the institute and further strengthening WPR’s strategic position in the national and international market.
Riemens has worked at Wageningen University & Research since 2003. Her previous roles include Group Leader for Crop Health. Most recently, she served as a strategic adviser within the Plant Sciences Group. In these positions, she combined scientific expertise with organisational and strategic responsibility.
Marleen Riemens began her career as a researcher at Plant Research International (PRI), one of WPR’s predecessor organisations, alongside completing her PhD in Crop and Weed Ecology at Wageningen University. In her research, she led national and European research projects on resilient cropping systems, with the aim of reducing dependence on chemical crop protection products. In doing so, she worked closely with public and private partners on solutions to societal challenges in agriculture and horticulture.
From research to impact
A consistent thread in Riemens’ work is connecting science, policy and practice. Within Wageningen University & Research, of which WPR is a part, she translates scientific developments into decisions on research programming. In 2025, she was consulted by the Health Council of the Netherlands in connection with advice on biological control. She has also been a member of the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) since 2020.
“I am delighted with the appointment of Marleen Riemens as Institute Manager,” says Managing Director Richard Harrison from the Plant Sciences Group. With her broad scientific expertise, strategic insight and extensive leadership experience, she will be a valuable addition to the management team. Her expertise and vision align closely with the ambitions of our institute to work in co-creating ambitious partnerships with our stakeholders that lead to real-world impact.”
About Wageningen Plant Research
Wageningen Plant Research conducts broad applied scientific research on plants and their interaction with the environment, from cell to system level. The institute applies plant science knowledge to support sustainable food production, biodiversity and a healthy living environment. WPR also manages the Dutch gene bank for crops.
Questions?
Do you have a question? Feel free to get in touch.