Wim van der Putten

Wim van der Putten is a Professor in Functional Biodiversity at Wageningen University & Research and Head of the Department of Terrestrial Ecology at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). He holds an honorary professorship at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on climate change, land use dynamics, and soil biodiversity. He graduated from Wageningen University in 1984 and completed his PhD in 1989 on coastal dune ecosystems. He has led major projects like the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative and the EU-funded EcoFinders and Liberation programs. His work bridges fundamental research with practical applications, such as soil health monitoring and ecosystem restoration.

Key achievements include ERC and VICI grants, co-authoring the European and Global Soil Biodiversity Atlases, and chairing initiatives like the Heineken Environment Prize. His recent studies explore soil microbial communities, organic farming transitions, and biodiversity responses to global changes. He emphasizes sustainable land management, advocating for 'productive deintensification' in agriculture.