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Press Info item. 21/07/2011

WallTraC Project Launch: INRA heads high-calibre EU training project for junior researchers

WallTraC, a Marie Curie Actions project is being launched on July 6-7 in Nantes. Led by INRA, WallTraC (Plant Cell Wall Training Consortium) is a high-calibre EU training project for junior scientists investigating plant cell walls. The project is a significant acknowledgement by the European Union of INRA’s scientific expertise in this field. Of the 66 Marie Curie actions selected this year, only eight of them are led by France. Projects such as WallTraC allow junior scientists to be granted the prestigious “Marie Curie” seal for their three-year dissertations.

WallTraC is coordinated by Marie-Christine Ralet from INRA Angers-Nantes. The project will focus on developing new tools and techniques for plant cell wall analysis and applying them to the agrifood and textile industries.

WallTraC is an Initial Training network (ITN) of the Marie Curie Actions programme. The main aims of the programme are to stimulate interest in research careers, encourage researchers to remain in Europe and to attract the best researchers from abroad. ITNs open opportunities for early-stage researchers by offering them the chance to work in academia or in industry.

 

WallTraC key figures:

• Duration: 4 years, from June 2011 to May 2015
• Recruitment of 11doctoral students (including 2 in Nantes) and 2 postdoctoral students
• 6 visiting doctoral students and 1 visiting post-doctoral student in Nantes
• Total budget: €3.5 M
• 11 European partners:
  2 partners from the private sector: Bayer Group and CP Kelco, the world’s leading producer of hydrocolloids
  7 academic partners, INRA, the Max Planck Institute, Copenhagen University, Leeds University, Potsdam University, Lisbon Technical University, Newcastle University
  and 2 associated partners: Eurice, VENAM Doctoral School.

Why study plant cell walls?

• Plant cell walls are the dietary fibre we eat in fruits, vegetables and grains.
• Plant cell walls are the source of pectins, which are extensively used by the agrifood industry.
• Plant cell walls are the physical barrier protecting each cell. They are key to the natural defence mechanisms protecting plants against UV rays, heat, drought and pathogens. Understanding their structure and functions will open up new possibilities to reduce the use of phytosanitary products.

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