In the genetic approach, rather than only focusing on genes involved in drought responses, emphasis will be placed on identifying the still largely unexplored function of the non-coding regulatory sequences that determine plant yield under drought. Microbial biostimulants will be developed by isolating and characterising those found in soils with a long drought history, from where crops have been traditionally grown and from where crop wild relatives thrive. They will be selected based on their ability to form symbiotic relationships that facilitate crop resilience under drought without incurring yield penalties. Furthermore, extracts from brown algae, representing biostimulants proven to prime plant drought responses, will also be used as a source of sustainable and renewable raw materials produced following circular bioeconomy requirements. The synergy between the genetic and biostimulant improvements fostered by BOOSTER will render our crops more climate resilient.

The major objective of BOOSTER is to implement strategies for improving drought tolerance in European maize and Ethiopian teff as a next step towards climate-smart agriculture. By concomitantly working on maize and teff, BOOSTER results will also provide information on the commonalities and differences in drought tolerance strategies utilized by these two cereals with stark differences in drought resilience. This additional information will allow us to explore the potential for transferring genotype- and species-specific drought-responsive features from an orphan cereal like teff to a cash crop like maize (Fig. 1.1a).