Nejc Stopnisek

Nejc Stopnisek is a microbial ecologist and Head of the Department of Agricultural Ecology and Natural Resources at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia. His research focuses on the plant holobiont, exploring how plant-associated microbiomes influence adaptation, resilience, and performance in agroecosystems. By integrating field experimentation with genomics and bioinformatics, he investigates microbiome assembly and function across diverse environments and crop species. His recent work includes studies on microbiome shifts during tomato domestication, wheat microbiome responses to drought stress, and the development of a Microbiome Atlas of Slovenian arable soils. Through these initiatives, he aims to identify specific microbial traits linked to plant resilience to advance microbiome-assisted breeding strategies. His primary focus is translating ecological insights into actionable knowledge for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

Temptative Title

Domestication of the Tomato: Genetic and Metabolic Control of Microbiome Recruitment

Pillars and Topic/Subtopic:

PILLAR 2: ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIONS & SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

2.1: Applied & Environmental Science

2.1b: Agricultural Systems Microbiology and Phytobiome Management