You come from near Cologne and, after stints in Bayreuth and Heidelberg, ended up in Versailles. How did that come about?

I wanted to study biochemistry, and at the time there were only four universities where that was possible, including Bayreuth. I then completed my PhD in Heidelberg in 1994 because my supervisor had ended up there. He sparked my enthusiasm for plant biochemistry. As a postdoc, I worked in Versailles for the first time between 1994 and 1996, and met Nicolaus von Wirén at a theatre festival in Avignon - he was in Montpellier at the time. I was delighted to see him again now, some 30 years later, at ‘Nitrogen 2026’ in Gatersleben.

The programme featured more than 70 talks and presentations over the four days. With such a mammoth programme, a clear framework is certainly needed…

Yes, that’s true. So, it was very helpful that Nicolaus von Wirén, as host, and Wim de Vries from Wageningen University in the Netherlands set out the significance and relevance of our topic very clearly right at the start. We are currently experiencing a global nitrogen crisis, partly caused by political crises that are severely restricting supplies. But that’s not all: as important as nitrogen is for agriculture, the problems it poses for the environment - such as over-fertilisation - are just as significant. To address these challenges, the scientific community must not only find answers, but also engage in dialogue with society.

It is sometimes said that your field is a niche subject. How do you respond to that?

I strongly disagree! Nitrogen is not a niche subject. We spend a great deal of money on medical research, and for good reason. But we certainly don’t need to hide away in our field. To put it somewhat bluntly: what good is it if we are all healthy but have nothing to eat?

What exactly are you working on?

My focus is on nutrient uptake and the efficient utilisation of nitrogen. I’m particularly interested in the molecular and biochemical processes involved. What motivates me is the hope that, in the long term, our basic research will mean we need less fertiliser in our fields, cause less environmental damage, and eat in a more sustainable and healthier way.

Which presentations did you find particularly interesting?

I would like to highlight two presentations. Zhengao Di from the University of Cambridge investigated nitrogen signalling processes at the single-cell level, which is now possible thanks to the latest technologies. And Peng Yu, from the Technical University of Munich, impressively highlighted the importance of the microbiome for nitrogen research. This is a very important area that has long been neglected.

How did you find the atmosphere at the conference?

Foremost, the IPK organised the conference excellently. The atmosphere was very open throughout the four days. You could tell this from the fact that many as yet unpublished findings were presented. The group of almost 100 participants was very diverse, both in background and age. The setting was also ideal for holding many discussions and initiating new collaborations.

Was this your first visit to the IPK?

I had been to the IPK briefly once before, in 2008. At the time, my French colleagues were on a tour to get to know the German research system better.

What are the differences?

As I have not worked in the German academic system for a long time, I am certainly not in a position to make a well-founded assessment. However, I believe the proportion of permanent posts at all levels is higher in France than in Germany. As a result, academics remain at an institution for longer, and are able to plan projects over the longer term.

You work at INRAE, France’s National Research Centre for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. What sets INRAE apart?

We have around 12,000 staff across 18 sites in France. In terms of our remit, we cover a broad spectrum, much like the Leibniz Association in Germany. However, our focus is narrower. It centres on agriculture, food, and the environment.

I headed the Jean-Pierre Bourgin Institute for Plant Sciences in Versailles for many years, and still have my research group there. Since 2025, however, I have been working primarily as a scientific adviser to our INRAE President, Philippe Mauguin.

That all sounds very demanding…

Yes, that’s true. But I’m passionate about both aspects of my work: the daily progress and challenges in my research group’s work, the close collaboration with long-standing colleagues and young researchers - and equally the strategic tasks facing our institute, INRAE.

Every Friday, I’m with my research group. That day isn’t necessarily tiring, but it’s very intense, because I discuss the results of the past week with all the group members and we plan the next steps.

What’s next for the conference?

We’ll meet again in 2029 in Japan - so, in a sense, back to our roots, as that’s where the first edition of ‘Nitrogen’ took place a few years ago.