ILS is going to host a set of monthly free webinars on topics related to legumes cultivation and improvement starting.
The webinars are hosted by Nelson Nazzicari using Microsoft Teams platform made available by CREA (Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics). The organization of the webinars is also made possible thanks to dr.
Rouvay Roodt-Wilding.
First webinar, 8 October, 2025, 2pm CEST (UTC+2)
Fanjiang Kong (School of Life Sciences
Guangzhou University)
Genetic and molecular basis underlying soybean photoperiod flowering and architecture
Photoperiod sensitivity is crucial for soybean flowering, adaptation, and yield. In soybean, photoperiod sensitivity centers around the evening complex (EC) that regulates the transcriptional level of the core transcription factor E1, thereby regulating flowering. Our study identifies how E2/GIGANTEA (GI) and its homologs modulate photoperiod sensitivity through interactions with the EC to form a photoperiod regulatory loop, maintaining sensitivity to photoperiod. Disruption of this loop leads to losing sensitivity, affecting soybean’s adaptability and yield. Understanding this loop’s dynamics is vital for molecular breeding to reduce soybean’s photoperiod sensitivity and develop cultivars with better adaptability and higher yields, potentially leading to the creation of photoperiod-insensitive varieties for broader agricultural applications.
Second webinar, 12 November 2025, 2pm CET (UTC+1)
Fatma Boukid, (ClonBio Group Ltd., Ireland)
Pulses as a Sustainable Protein Source
Pulse proteins are increasingly recognized as key components of sustainable and nutritious food systems. Derived from legumes such as lentils, peas, chickpeas, and beans, they provide high-quality plant-based protein along with fiber, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Their unique structural and functional properties enable wide applications in food innovation, from meat and dairy alternatives to fortified products. This presentation will explore the composition, structure, and nutritional quality of pulse proteins, as well as advances in their extraction and modification. Emphasis will be placed on their technological potential, health relevance, and contribution to sustainable food systems. Understanding these aspects is essential to harness the full value of pulse proteins and to drive innovation in future food development.
You can find the slides from the presentation at the following link:
Special session: young researchers, 10 December 2025, 2pm CET (UTC+1)
This special session will feature flash presentations by three junior scientists showcasing their research. Click here to participate.
Julia Escudero Feliu, postdoctoral researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and University Professor at the European University of Valencia (UEV), Department of Basic Sciences.
Exploring lupin-derived nutraceutical proteins as a novel preventive and therapeutic strategy against inflammatory-related diseases
Gaetano Giudice, postodoctoral fellow at Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari AldoMoro, Bari, Italy
Field resistance to Orobanche crenata in pea (Pisum sativum L.): beyond strigolactones
Rafael Duarte, PhD student in Biotechnology and a researcher at CBQF – Catholic University of Portugal
Beyond protein: The multifunctional provisions of legume non-nutritionals for One Health
Third webinar, 7 January, 2026, 11 am CET (UTC +1)
NOTE THAT THE TIME IS DIFFERENT FROM THE USUAL
Fourth webinar, 4 February, 2026 (time to be confirmed)
Sukhjiwan Kaur (Agriculture Victoria Research, Department of Environment, Energy & Climate Action – DEECA)
Topic TBA
Fifth webinar, 11 March 2026 (time to be confirmed)
Ken Giller (Emeritus Professor Plant Production Systems at Wageningen University)
The legacy of N2Africa: Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa
Sixth webinar, 8 April 2026 (time to be confirmed)
Francisco Castro Alves (Research Programme Officer at the European Commision, Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Unit F2 – Research & Innovation)
Legumes in the EU’s R&I landscape: Policy and programme updates