Marcel van der Heijden

Prof. Marcel van der Heijden leads the Agroecology and Plant-Microbiome Interactions research group at the University of Zurich in collaboration with Agroscope, Switzerland's premier agricultural research institution. His work focuses on understanding how soil microorganisms, mycorrhizal fungi, and plant microbiomes influence crop productivity and ecosystem functionality.

• Key Research Areas: Sustainable agroecosystems, microbiome engineering, agricultural management impacts on soil biodiversity
• Collaborations: University of Zurich Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Agroscope

Current investigations explore:
- Role of mycorrhizal fungi diversity in yield enhancement
- Link between microbiome composition and ecosystem multifunctionality
- Ecological impacts of organic vs conventional farming practices

No specific awards or grants mentioned in provided text