Maria Stella Grando

Maria Stella Grando is a full-time Professor of Agricultural Genetics at the University of Trento, working within the Center for Agriculture, Food and Environment (C3A). Her academic career focuses on bridging genomic science with practical agricultural applications to address sustainability challenges.

Her research interests center on agricultural genetics, plant genomics, and sustainable crop improvement. Professor Grando studies traditional crop landraces to understand their genetic diversity and adaptation mechanisms, particularly focusing on drought tolerance and climate resilience in Mediterranean crops. She emphasizes that developing sustainable agriculture depends on research's ability to effectively communicate with producers and cultivators, moving beyond the traditional GMO debate to explore more holistic approaches to crop improvement.

Analysis of her recent publication record reveals a strong focus on genomic approaches to sustainable agriculture, with particular emphasis on wheat and barley landraces. Her work consistently integrates molecular genetics with practical farming knowledge, reflecting her belief that scientific solutions must be adopted by farmers to be effective. The research spans from fundamental genomic studies to applied breeding approaches, demonstrating a commitment to translating scientific discoveries into practical agricultural solutions.

Professor Grando actively collaborates with agricultural communities, incorporating traditional farming knowledge into her scientific research. Her approach recognizes that sustainable solutions emerge from dialogue between researchers and practitioners, ensuring that genetic improvements address real-world farming challenges while maintaining ecological sustainability.

Her laboratory work focuses on understanding the genomic basis of stress tolerance in traditional crop varieties, with particular attention to Mediterranean agricultural systems facing climate challenges. This research provides valuable insights for developing climate-resilient crop varieties that can maintain productivity under changing environmental conditions.