Halophytes for Saline Soil Restoration and Sustainable Agriculture

Halophytes, particularly Salicornia spp., show high genetic variability and salinity tolerance, making them ideal for restoring degraded saline soils and developing sustainable agricultural crops. Prof. Dr. Jutta Papenbrock leads WP2 and contributes to WP6 of the AQUACOMBINE project, focusing on breeding resilient halophytes for zero-waste applications. Her research at the Institute of Botany, Leibniz Universität Hannover, explores plant metabolism and physiological adaptations in halophytes. These plants can produce food, feed, botanical extracts, and high-value products for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The project aims to optimise the entire production chain from sowing to final products, leveraging genetic diversity to develop consistent, high-performing cultivars.