Fulai Liu

Fulai Liu is Professor and group leader of Crop Stress Physiology at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on enhancing crop yield, quality, and resource use efficiency under abiotic stresses in climate change scenarios, with expertise in plant adaptation mechanisms to drought, heat, salinity, and elevated CO₂.

His educational background includes:

• B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences from Beijing Agricultural University (1988-1992)
• M.Sc. from Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany (1998-2000)
• Ph.D. from The Royal Veterinary & Agricultural University (2001-2004)
• Diploma in educational studies (2007-2008)
• Leadership certificate from University of Copenhagen (2019)

Liu's research centers on crop stress physiology and agricultural resource management. He investigates hydraulic/chemical signaling in stomatal regulation, biochar-mediated nutrient dynamics, stress priming mechanisms, and multi-generational CO₂ effects. His work integrates physiology, agronomy, and soil science to develop deficit irrigation strategies and climate-resilient cropping systems, with emphasis on physiological mechanisms rather than genetic modification.

His 2025 publications reveal strong focus on biochar-water-nutrient interactions under stress, elevated CO₂ effects on ion homeostasis, and multi-stress adaptation across crops including cotton, maize, and tomato. Key trends include ABA signaling modulation, phosphorus bioavailability enhancement, and nanoplastics' impact on stress responses.

Scientific recognition includes:

• DAAD Fellowship (1998-2000)
• KVL Ph.D. Stipend (2001-2004)

As Principal Investigator for 30+ national/international projects totaling >40 million DKK, Liu has led initiatives including EU SAFIR on food safety, Villum Foundation research on wheat sustainability, and EU H2020 Smart Protein. He serves on PhD committees globally (China, Pakistan, Australia, Norway) and coordinates PLEN's PhD program since 2021, mentoring students through Sino-Danish Centre programs. His grant portfolio spans climate-resilient agriculture, water management, and soil amendment technologies.

Liu leads the Crop Stress Physiology group, utilizing climate-controlled growth chambers, semi-field greenhouses, and instrumented field trials to simulate multi-stress conditions. The group collaborates internationally on projects like Bac4Crop (bacterial products for climate resilience) and RECOPE (phosphorus use efficiency), maintaining strong ties with Chinese, African, and European institutions through the Sino-Danish Centre.