Leading University Appoints AI Expert to Transform Crop Development for Global Food Security
Wageningen, Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
Wageningen University has selected Professor Agnieszka Golicz to lead its Plant Breeding department starting March 2026, bringing cutting-edge artificial intelligence and genomics expertise to accelerate crop development. Golicz, currently at Germany’s Justus Liebig University, specializes in explainable AI that can predict which plant crosses will produce the best trait combinations, potentially revolutionizing how crops are developed for climate resilience and food security challenges.
Revolutionary AI Technology Transforms Plant Breeding
This appointment represents a significant advancement in agritech innovation, specifically targeting the application of artificial intelligence to accelerate crop development for sustainable food production [1]. Professor Golicz brings expertise in bio-informatics, genomics, and explainable AI to Wageningen University & Research (WUR), where she will assume the role of Professor and Head of the Plant Breeding chair group starting March 1, 2026 [1]. The technology works by analyzing biological processes and predicting which plant crosses will yield the most valuable trait combinations, fundamentally changing how breeding programs are designed and executed [1]. According to Golicz, “AI is transforming plant breeding at remarkable speed. It helps us understand biological processes more clearly and predict which crosses are most likely to deliver valuable combinations of traits” [3].
Strategic Positioning at Global Research Leader
Wageningen University & Research, located in Wageningen, Netherlands, operates as a research and science company with between 1,001-5,000 employees [3]. The institution’s main location is at Radix, building 107, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands [3]. Golicz is currently serving as Professor of Agrobio-informatics at Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, and is recognized as a pioneer in crop pangenomics who contributed to mapping the genome and pangenome of field beans [1]. Her academic background includes studying Molecular Genetics at the University of Dundee and earning a PhD in Applied Bioinformatics from the University of Queensland, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Melbourne [1]. She will succeed former chair Richard Visser in this prestigious position [1].
Strategic Benefits for Global Food Security
The innovation offers substantial benefits for addressing global food security challenges through the development of climate-resilient crops using data-driven breeding methods [1]. Richard Harrison, director of the Plant Sciences Group of WUR, emphasized the transformative nature of this technological shift: “Plant breeding is entering a new phase: AI and biotechnology will play a much larger role in how we design and accelerate breeding programs, and in what we teach our students” [1]. The appointment aligns with WUR’s strategy to strengthen the collaboration between the university’s Plant Breeding group and Wageningen Plant Research, enabling rapid translation of scientific insights into practical applications [1]. This collaboration, which has been in place since 2005 when the groups merged, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on December 30, 2025 [3].
Future Vision for Agricultural Innovation
Golicz expressed particular enthusiasm for Wageningen’s research approach, stating: “What appeals to me in Wageningen is the strong connection between fundamental and applied research. This offers opportunities to make new technologies available more quickly for modern breeding programs. With my background in data analysis, bio-informatics and plant genomics, I look forward to contributing to this approach” [1]. The Plant Sciences Group views this appointment as a crucial step to strengthen education and research in plant breeding at Wageningen [1]. This strategic hire positions the Netherlands at the forefront of sustainable food production solutions, demonstrating WUR’s commitment to advanced technological approaches in agricultural innovation [GPT]. The integration represents a significant step toward developing crops that can withstand climate challenges while meeting global food security demands [GPT].