AI Expert Takes Charge of Plant Breeding at Top Agricultural University
Wageningen, Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Professor Agnieszka Golicz brings cutting-edge artificial intelligence and genomics expertise to revolutionize crop development at Wageningen University starting March 2026. Her appointment signals a major shift toward data-driven plant breeding methods that could accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. Golicz emphasizes how AI is transforming agriculture by predicting optimal plant crosses and understanding biological processes at unprecedented speed and precision.
Agritech Innovation Category and Revolutionary Benefits
This development represents a significant advancement in agritech, specifically agricultural biotechnology focused on crop improvement through computational methods. The appointment of Professor Golicz brings together artificial intelligence, genomics, and bioinformatics to address fundamental challenges in global food security [1]. The benefits of this AI-driven approach to plant breeding are substantial: it enables faster identification of optimal plant crosses, accelerates the development of climate-resilient crop varieties, and provides deeper understanding of biological processes that drive plant development, quality, resilience, and adaptation [1][2]. AI transforms plant biotechnology by enabling faster, smarter, and more precise research, helping scientists make data-driven decisions that were previously time-consuming or impossible [7]. This technology can analyze large genomic datasets, improve disease detection, and enhance yield prediction, fundamentally changing how breeding programs are designed and accelerated [7].
How the Technology Works
The AI-driven plant breeding methodology operates through sophisticated integration of multiple technological approaches. The system utilizes bioinformatics, genomics, and explainable AI to analyze complex biological data and predict plant characteristics [1]. At Wageningen University, researchers explore processes underlying plant development by integrating bioinformatics, developmental biology, quantitative genetics, and statistics to understand how molecular mechanisms contribute to specific traits [2]. The technology works by setting up pan-genome data structures that capture genomic diversity, including intra- and interspecific variation, augmented with transcriptomic data representing gene expression diversity [8]. AI methods can predict the functional impact of mutations and perform genotype-phenotype association analyses using phenotypic data on traits like water stress and nitrogen-use-efficiency [8]. Explainable AI further deepens understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying selected traits, providing transparency in how predictions are made [8].
Leadership and Institutional Location
Professor Agnieszka Golicz will assume her role as head of the Plant Breeding group at Wageningen University & Research on March 1, 2026, succeeding Richard Visser [1]. Currently serving as professor of Agrobio-informatics at Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, Golicz brings extensive expertise in researching the genetic and molecular basis of plant properties [1]. Her academic background includes studying Molecular Genetics at the University of Dundee, earning a PhD in Applied Bioinformatics from the University of Queensland, and conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Melbourne [1]. Wageningen University & Research is located in Wageningen, Netherlands, and stands as a leading institution in agricultural and life sciences research globally [GPT]. The university’s Plant Breeding chair group specifically focuses on fundamental biological and genetic principles that drive crop improvement, making it an ideal platform for Golicz’s AI-driven research approach [2].
Strategic Timing and Future Impact
The announcement of Golicz’s appointment strategically coincides with the 20th-year celebration of the combined Plant Breeding group of Wageningen University and Wageningen Research, scheduled for February 28, 2026 [1]. Professor Richard Harrison, director of the Plant Sciences Group at WUR, views this appointment as a crucial step to strengthen education and research in plant breeding, noting that the field is entering a new phase where AI and biotechnology will play much larger roles in designing and accelerating breeding programs [1]. Golicz emphasizes the rapid pace of AI transformation in plant breeding, stating that it helps understand biological processes better and enables early identification of crosses likely to produce optimal trait combinations [1]. The strong connection between fundamental and applied research at Wageningen offers opportunities to make new technologies available more quickly for modern breeding programs, positioning the institution at the forefront of agricultural innovation that addresses global food security challenges through sustainable crop development [1][2].