Marcel Van Der Heijden Email & Phone Number | I am professor of Agroecology and Plant-Microbiome Interactions at the University of Zurich and I head the Plant-Soil Interactions Group at the Swiss Federal Research Institute Agroscope. In addition, I am professor for Mycorrhizal Ecology at Utrecht University. We are an international and highly motivated research team consisting of approximately 30 members (researchers, technicians, students). During the past 20 years, I have been investigating the importance of underground microbial biodiversity for ecosystems. We test the impact of mycorrhizal fungi and soil microbial diversity on plant productivity, plant biodiversity, ecosystem sustainability and nutrient cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Recently we discovered that field inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi works and can promote maize yield (we detected yield increases of up to 40%), especially in soils where we detect soil pathogens (see Lutz et al. 2023, Nature Microbiology). Moreover, in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the EU, we assessed patterns of microbial diversity across Europe detecting over 79'000 taxa bacteria and 25'000 fungi (see Labouyrie et al. 2023, Nature Communications). We estimated that soils are highly diverse (up to 59% of global diversity is thought to be assocaited with soil - see our recent paper "Enumerating Soil Biodiversity" by Anthony et al. 2023 (PNAS). Also, we have shown that soil microbiomes are intimately linked to plant, soil and environmental health, e.g. "One Health" (see review "Soil Microbiomes and One Health" by Banerjee & van der Heijden 2023, Nature Reviews Microbiology). We perform greenhouse and lab trials, but also work in agricultural fields, testing field inoculation with biologicals or comparing different farming systems (e.g. see the paper by Wittwer et al. (2021): organic agricultura and conservatin agriculture promote ecosystem multifunctionality (Science Advances). In recent years we measured the occurrence of pesticides in agricultural soils and investigate whether pesticides influence soil life and soil functioning. For instance, we discovered that fungicides reduce the natural nutrient uptake capacity of beneficial arbusuclar mycorrhizal fungi (see Edlinger et al. 2022, Nature Ecology & Evolution). Further studies are underway. Our overall goal is explore and understand the fascinating world below our feet and make agriculture more sustainable.

Marcel Van Der Heijden

I am professor of Agroecology and Plant-Microbiome Interactions at the University of Zurich and I he...
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

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Marcel Van Der Heijden’s Email marcel.van.der.heijden@falw.vu.nl

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Marcel Van Der Heijden’s Location Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Marcel Van Der Heijden’s Current Industry University Of Zurich Plant Microbe Interactions Group Utrecht University Agroscope Department Of Agro Ecology And The Environment

Marcel Van Der Heijden’s Prior Industry Vu University Amsterdam | University Of Basel

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Work Experience

University Of Zurich

Professor for Agroecology and Plant Microbiome Interactions

2018-01-01 00:00:00 - Present

Plant Microbe Interactions Group Utrecht University

Professor of mycorrhizal ecology

2010-01-01 00:00:00 - Present

Agroscope Department Of Agro Ecology And The Environment

Prof. Dr. Ir.

2007-01-01 00:00:00 - Present

Vu University Amsterdam

researcher

2000-01-01 00:00:00 - 2011-01-01 00:00:00

University Of Basel

PHD Student

1994-10-01 00:00:00 - 1999-12-01 00:00:00

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FAQ About Marcel Van Der Heijden

Marcel Van Der Heijden is located at
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Marcel Van Der Heijden is a I am professor of Agroecology and Plant-Microbiome Interactions at the University of Zurich and I head the Plant-Soil Interactions Group at the Swiss Federal Research Institute Agroscope. In addition, I am professor for Mycorrhizal Ecology at Utrecht University. We are an international and highly motivated research team consisting of approximately 30 members (researchers, technicians, students). During the past 20 years, I have been investigating the importance of underground microbial biodiversity for ecosystems. We test the impact of mycorrhizal fungi and soil microbial diversity on plant productivity, plant biodiversity, ecosystem sustainability and nutrient cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Recently we discovered that field inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi works and can promote maize yield (we detected yield increases of up to 40%), especially in soils where we detect soil pathogens (see Lutz et al. 2023, Nature Microbiology). Moreover, in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the EU, we assessed patterns of microbial diversity across Europe detecting over 79'000 taxa bacteria and 25'000 fungi (see Labouyrie et al. 2023, Nature Communications). We estimated that soils are highly diverse (up to 59% of global diversity is thought to be assocaited with soil - see our recent paper "Enumerating Soil Biodiversity" by Anthony et al. 2023 (PNAS). Also, we have shown that soil microbiomes are intimately linked to plant, soil and environmental health, e.g. "One Health" (see review "Soil Microbiomes and One Health" by Banerjee & van der Heijden 2023, Nature Reviews Microbiology). We perform greenhouse and lab trials, but also work in agricultural fields, testing field inoculation with biologicals or comparing different farming systems (e.g. see the paper by Wittwer et al. (2021): organic agricultura and conservatin agriculture promote ecosystem multifunctionality (Science Advances). In recent years we measured the occurrence of pesticides in agricultural soils and investigate whether pesticides influence soil life and soil functioning. For instance, we discovered that fungicides reduce the natural nutrient uptake capacity of beneficial arbusuclar mycorrhizal fungi (see Edlinger et al. 2022, Nature Ecology & Evolution). Further studies are underway. Our overall goal is explore and understand the fascinating world below our feet and make agriculture more sustainable.

Marcel Van Der Heijden currently works in the University Of Zurich | Plant Microbe Interactions Group Utrecht University | Agroscope Department Of Agro Ecology And The Environment |

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Marcel Van Der Heijden has prior
experience in the following industries:
Vu University Amsterdam | University Of Basel

Marcel Van Der Heijden has the following professional experience:
University Of Zurich | Plant Microbe Interactions Group Utrecht University | Agroscope Department Of Agro Ecology And The Environment | Vu University Amsterdam | University Of Basel