About
The Center for Sustainable Plant Innovation and Resilience Through International Teamwork (or C-SPIRIT) is a National Science Foundation-funded Global Center that unites researchers from the United States, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom to tackle agricultural challenges and develop sustainable farming solutions. Focused on stabilizing global food production in the face of shifting climate conditions and environmental stress, the center explores natural products from plants and microbes to improve soil and plant health, ultimately enhancing crop resilience and productivity.
Our Vision & Mission
Our vision is to stabilize global food production and foster sustainable agricultural practices through cutting-edge research into plant resilience mechanisms, focusing on the natural chemistry of plants and microbes.
Our mission is to discover bioactive compounds that enhance plant and soil health while engaging industry partners and stakeholders to co-develop technology, promote sustainability, and build public trust. Through international collaboration, C-SPIRIT will train future leaders in the bioeconomy and green agriculture sectors, creating resilient systems that support the world’s food supply.
Our Team
We have over 110 members dedicated to the C-SPIRIT mission, each working to support the collaboration in a different way. Our team consists of faculty, research associates, graduate students, postdocs, and other important positions that work towards our six aims. We also have a stakeholder board, a scientific advisory board, external evaluators, a leadership team, and an administrative team.
The Organizational Structure of C-SPIRIT
Our Impact
Our Center’s mission extends beyond scientific discovery to address public concerns, foster trust, and increase the acceptance of bioactive natural products and genome editing technologies. We engage with farmers, consumers, and stakeholders to understand their perspectives and inform our approach to sustainable agriculture.
Annual Reports
Each year, C-SPIRIT releases a Public Annual Report, highlighting our center’s accomplishments, events, research excellence, and more.
Media
Learn more about C-SPIRIT’s work through our media highlights, interviews, and features. Click the button below to see recent coverage and multimedia resources.
Contact Us
Have questions about C-SPIRIT or want to connect with our team? Click the button below to get in touch—we’d love to hear from you.
C-SPIRIT 