The Science

How will Danforth Center research benefit humans?

This century offers us challenges unparalleled in human history. How will we produce enough food to feed the world?  How can we bring health and better nutrition to everyone?  How can we meet our increasing energy needs?  How do we improve the production and sustainability of agriculture around the world? The aim of research at the Danforth Center is to understand plant processes in order to apply this knowledge to improve the human condition. Using both model plants and crops, our research is manifested through developing breakthrough discoveries that help us understand and alter specific biochemical pathways; discover how complexes move from cell to cell during disease development; learn how seed composition can be altered to improve the nutritional value of foods and feeds; explore new metabolic pathways; recognize how enzymes and plant biosynthesis facilitate improved metabolic engineering; comprehend how plants perceive and respond to environmental stresses; and determine new and unique ways to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis and a plants’ ability to produce molecules that can be converted to energy.