Official launch of the GREENSCALE project

A structuring project

•     Presentation of the project and its governance by Jean Alric & Fabien Chardon
•     Focus on the FairCarboN program and communication strategy with Julien Demenois, Perrine Franquet and Patricia Garnier
•     Administrative matters with Stéphanie Thiébault & Yasmina Reynier (ANR)
•     Status of work packages, recruitment and synergies with other projects
•     Data management plan and sharing of materials with project members
•     Barley phenotyping in the IJBP greenhouse with Lucas Leverne, Solan Lévy, Clara Gilloteau and Benjamin Gac.

Green Scale is a project at the heart of agricultural challenges in a context of climate urgency and the quest for C neutrality, in terrestrial ecosystems that are confronted, in particular with the impact of climate change on CO₂ sequestration through photosynthesis.

GREENSCALE proposes an approach to mitigate these effects by reducing crop nitrogen (N) requirements while maintaining C. The hypothesis is based on the regulation of chlorophyll content, which influences the acclimatization of photosynthesis to environmental conditions. By specifically adjusting chlorophyll b and its associated protein complexes, the project explores a strategy that could reduce soil N assimilation, lower canopy temperature and limit evapotranspiration, while preserving CO₂ assimilation under optimal light conditions.

An innovative scientific partnership

Carried out by researchers from INRAE, CNRS, CEA and ARVALIS, GREENSCALE aims to gain a better understanding of the interactions between nitrogen nutrition, photosynthesis and the C-N cycle in the soil. Using non-GMO barley varieties with varying chlorophyll contents, the project analyzes their responses to drought and N inputs. The aim is to improve the accuracy of continental surface models to better understand the natural variability of agricultural land and grasslands.

An impact on the future of agriculture

The results will help guide plant improvement programs towards sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. GREENSCALE aims to structure photosynthesis research in France, linking molecular and cellular approaches, environmental studies and agronomy.

Next steps:

    Continue the collaborative work and structure the actions to be taken to maximize the project's impact!
    Thanks to all participants for their constructive exchanges. Looking forward to the next steps!