Quantum emitters such as atoms or molecules are at the forefront of fundamental physics tests, metrology and quantum technology. The growing need for miniaturization puts atoms and molecules in close proximity to solid-state surfaces leading to hybridization. Solid-state platforms modify the vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field, inevitably changing the quantum emitter's internal structure such as energy levels, radiative lifetimes, and symmetry properties. Conversely, structuring the environment around atoms and molecules in a controlled fashion provides a unique way to shape the electromagnetic fluctuations and tune the properties of quantum systems. The project aims to explore the interaction of an atom or molecule with the vacuum, tailored and colored by thermally excited surface modes of macroscopic bodies. It combines one theory group of experts in atom and molecule-surface interactions, from the University of Rostock in Germany, with an experimental group from the University of Paris 13, specialists in near-field atom and molecule-surface interactions in vapour cells. Thermal vapour cells containing atoms or molecules are compact platforms that interface atoms and molecules with solid-state devices for the purposes of quantum physics experiments and quantum technologies. Fabricating this new generation of quantum devices requires inevitably fundamental knowledge of the interaction of atoms and molecules with planar and nanostructured surfaces. We will pursue the following objectives: 1) We will probe the interaction of Rydberg atoms with dielectric surfaces demonstrating multipole interactions beyond the usual dipole-dipole interaction approximation, 2) We will probe the molecule-surface interaction with transmission spectroscopy inside molecular gas nanocells and we will investigate the effects of molecular orientation with respect to the surface (anisotropy of molecule-surface interactions), 3) We will fabricate a new generation of vapour cells with nanostructured windows (planar metamaterials) for tailoring the atom (molecule)-surface interaction. 4) We will spectroscopically probe the interaction of Rydberg atoms in nanostructured cells, coupled with terahertz resonators and demonstrate tuning of the Rydberg surface interaction. The proposal's main strength results from a close collaboration between theory and experiment. Ultimately, the knowledge gained will allow us to shape the quantum vacuum around atoms and molecules. Although the studies of atom and molecule surface interactions lie in the field of fundamental quantum physics they could have implications to quantum technologies, physical chemistry, astrophysics, fluid dynamics, and even biology.

Creeping perennial weeds have strong impacts on arable production, causing crop quantity and quality losses unless controlled. These weeds ensure their lifeform by subterranean storage organs (e.g., roots, rhizomes). Besides seed dispersal, their subterranean clonal systems facilitate survival and spatial spread in arable fields by vegetative sprouting. Classified as geophytes which regenerate their above ground plant biomass from subterranean sources, they can in general occur in different agroecosystems. Some creeping perennial species are strongly adapted to arable land where intensive crop production occurs. The common practices of arable farmers to control creeping perennial weeds are intensive inversion tillage and herbicides (especially glyphosate). However, intensive inversion tillage by ploughing not only consumes lots of energy, but also diminishes the soil biological activities. Indiscriminate use of herbicides has side effects on human health, non-target species, and the wider environment (e.g., water quality). Agro-ecological management claims that sustainable agricultural systems should rely as much as possible on ecological processes to ensure long-term food security, human welfare and environmental protection. Indeed, integrated weed management for perennial weeds demands to explore, compare and evaluate such novel strategies. The objective of AC/DC-weeds is to implement more and better agro-ecological management for creeping perennials in arable farming. The overall aim of this project is to reduce plough-tillage in organic and conventional farming, and to replace glyphosate in the latter system. AC/DC-weeds involves seven partners from five European countries. These countries represent a considerable area of central and northern Europe. The three year project contains seven Work Packages, each aiming to use the most advanced methodology to achieve the following research objectives: • Through field experiments, examine the perennial weed control efficiency of novel mechanical tillage tools (‘root cutter’), subsidiary crops, and bioactive herbicides; • Conduct meta-analyses to quantify the efficiency of competition process by subsidiary crops on perennial weed regulation, to analyse the sources of variability and to relate the effects to crop traits; • By literature review and small scale experiments, expand ecological data and knowledge for three most important perennial weed species in central and northern Europe (Elymus repens, Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis); • Based on the currently best UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology, improve mapping procedures of perennial weeds in arable fields; • Develop a new qualitative modelling of perennial weed management based on combined control methods, soil, weather, and the environment; • Design a graphic web tool to support end users with accessible and specific information on the efficiency of management options on perennial weeds; • Explore environmental and economic effects of agro-ecological management strategies to support project communication and dissemination.

Forest landscape restoration and afforestation have recently received much international attention as a crucial opportunity for mitigating climate change (CC). Therefore, it features prominently in many political initiatives such as the EU Green Deal and the Bonn Challenge. Yet, the ongoing increase in biotic and abiotic stress driven by CC puts forests under threat. In the face of CC, adaptation and mitigation by forests are ultimately linked, because the ability of forests to sequester carbon (C) in the long run depends on the ability of trees to cope with multiple stresses. A growing body of evidence suggests that mixed forest plantations, i.e., plantations where several tree species are mixed, are more efficient in sequestrating C, while better coping with CC-related stress. Mixed plantations thus represent an opportunity for an important nature-based solution for CC mitigation and adaptation. However, monocultures still dominate the world?s forest plantations. The reasons for the apparent resistance to mixed plantations among landowners and stakeholders need to be identified and addressed in future forest policies to promote the large-scale expansion of more CC-resilient mixed forest plantations. One of the possible factors that may have prevented the expansion of mixed plantations at large scales is insufficient scientific evidence for practitioners and policy-makers. Using a global network of forest biodiversity experiments (TreeDivNet), we will provide a mechanistic understanding of how tree diversity, species identities and management (thinning and fertilization) influence both the potential of mixed forest plantations to mitigate (C sequestration) and adapt (drought and herbivory resilience) to CC, in a win-win approach. In addition, we will translate this knowledge into guidelines that can be widely adopted by practitioners and policy-makers. The TreeDivNet network comprises 26 experiments spread across the globe, with ca. 1.2M planted trees. All these experiments were based on a common, statistically sound design that allows detection of causal relationships between tree diversity, management and forest ecosystem functioning (incl. C sequestration). The functional and mechanistic focus of MixForChange and the contrasting environmental contexts embedded in the network will allow us to scale-up our findings beyond case studies to provide evidence-based guidelines for mixed plantation management in a broad range of environments. Moreover, MixForChange will analyse in a common framework, and at unprecedented scale, synergies and trade-offs between the CC mitigation and adaptation potential of mixed plantations and the fulfilment of stakeholders? objectives. The societal impact of MixForChange will be ensured by a strong focus on knowledge transfer and capacity-building at all levels of management and governance. MixForChange will make an important contribution to promoting mixed forest plantations as nature-based solutions to fight CC.

Terrestrial life on Earth relies on plant photosynthesis to produce oxygen and to assimilate CO2 into organic matter. The most abundant enzyme in leaves is the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) that produces, by its carboxylase activity, the building blocks to make sugar phosphates and all other organic molecules within the plant. However, RuBisCO has also an oxygenase activity that produces 2-phosphoglycolate and other toxic metabolites that must be metabolized. This is achieved by the photorespiratory cycle. However, this important metabolic pathway has a cost since it uses energy and reducing power and it also leads to the liberation of assimilated carbon and nitrogen as CO2 and ammonia that is either re-assimilated (again at a certain energetic cost) or lost to the atmosphere. Therefore, the photorespiratory cycle has been described as “wasteful” to plant productivity and therefore it is a good target to manipulate with respect to improving plant yield. Indeed, Arabidopsis plants with a modified photorespiratory metabolism show an improved biomass compared to wild-type plants. Although we now have a good understanding of the eight core photorespiratory enzymes as well as certain by-pass pathways, the regulation of the photorespiratory cycle is poorly understood and little is known about how its interactions with other plant metabolic pathways and functions (photosynthesis, respiration, N-metabolism, C1 metabolism) are coordinated. Recent data show that all but one of the core photorespiratory enzymes can be phosphorylated. Generally protein phosphorylation leads to a modulation in protein function such as activity, sub-cellular localization, capacity to interact with other proteins, and stability. The overall aim of this project is to elucidate the role of protein phosphorylation in the control and regulation of the photorespiratory cycle. The will be achieved by (i) monitoring changes in photorespiratory enzyme phosphorylation state as a function of leaf photorespiratory activity by targeted phosphoproteomics, (ii) understanding the effect of phosphorylation on photorespiratory enzyme activity and kinetic properties by analyzing recombinant non-phosphorylatable or phosphorylation-mimic enzymes, (iii) evaluating the impact of photorespiratory enzyme phosphorylation/nonphosphorylation on plant physiology and metabolism by transforming mutants to express mutated photorespiratory enzymes and (iv) identifying protein kinases responsible for photorespiratory enzyme phosphorylation in peroxisomes. Our project will bring together the actors and the expertise necessary to achieve a better understanding of how each phosphorylation event affects photorespiratory enzyme function, and how this impacts on the photorespiratory cycle and interacting metabolic pathways. To attain our goals we will use complementary approaches including proteomics, phosphoproteomics, recombinant protein technology, site-directed mutagenesis, affinity chromatography, and targeted (using LC-MS, HPLC methods) and non-targeted (GC-TOF-MS) metabolite analyses. The novel data generated will increase our fundamental knowledge concerning this key metabolic pathway and its interaction with neighboring metabolisms. The new tools and results will indicate the plant metabolic pathways that can/should be modified to improve plant fitness in a changing environment (e.g. increased CO2 levels and temperature), with the aim of maintaining yield (biomass) using lower input amounts (e.g. fertilizers). Thus, we anticipate that the project will contribute to defining components and processes that can subsequently be validated in agriculturally important crop species as part of the ongoing effort to understand and promote appropriate strategies to improve yield in such species.