Plant Institute

Plant Institute

Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in all aspects of plant-based scientific investigation

Growing Scientific Excellence for a Better World

The Penn State Plant Institute cultivates a vibrant ecosystem of plant-focused innovation, collaboration, and impact. Our research, education, and outreach mission spans diverse disciplines, uniting students, staff, postdocs, and faculty across the entire Penn State system. We seek to cultivate:

  • Transdisciplinary Excellence: We foster interdisciplinary research by developing cutting-edge facilities, equipping researchers, and facilitating collaborative activities. Our goal is to bridge disciplines, engage stakeholders, and amplify the global beneficial impacts of plant science at Penn State
  • Engagement and Visibility: The Institute showcases the achievements of its members. We engage with the general public, Penn State administration, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States government, global stakeholders, and corporate partners. We promote the critical role of plant science in addressing societal challenges
  • Inspiring the Next Generation: We are passionate about attracting and supporting the next generation of plant scientists. By promoting the excitement and relevance of our field, we encourage students to explore plant science as a rewarding career path
  • Strategic Synergy: We strategically leverage existing programs that align with our goals. This collaborative approach ensures efficiency and maximizes our collective impact

News

Honey from continental US may be as pesticide-free as imported organic honey

Honey from the continental U.S. can’t currently be certified organic due to specific land requirements, but farms in the Northeast may still produce honey that is as low in pesticide residue as imported organic honeys, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State, Cornell University and Auburn University.

Huck Institutes announces recipients of nine interdisciplinary seed grants

Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has awarded nine research teams seed funding for 2026-27. These grants support high-impact, innovative research projects that align with the Huck’s strategic research priorities and have the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and generate significant return on investment.

Penn State Master Gardeners to share gardening expertise at Ag Progress Days

Whether diagnosing plant problems, identifying insects or planning a landscape, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners can help visitors tackle gardening questions with research-based advice in the Yard and Garden Area during Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 11-13, at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.

Fourteen interdisciplinary research teams receive 2026 IEE seed grants

Fourteen interdisciplinary research teams have received funding through the Institute of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) 2026 Seed Grant Program. The program supports basic and applied research that lays the groundwork to pursue external funding and is guided by IEE’s five strategic research themes. This year, the program awarded seed funding to more than 40 researchers across 10 colleges and campuses and 21 departments and units.