Crop Biotechnology and Engineering Maastricht University

Overview

Crop Biotechnology and Engineering is about the sustainable, local production of healthy crops that can be used as food or as raw material in circular industries.

This Crop Biotechnology and Engineering programme from Maastricht University is the only programme of its kind in the Netherlands, offered by Maastricht University and Radboud University.  It brings together expertise in plant physiology, molecular genetics, greenhouse technology, and sustainable agriculture.

In this programme, you learn by doing. Working on small research projects, you build skills through real-life challenges. As you go, the challenges grow, and you get to explore, research, and create real solutions. It all leads up to your final research project: your master’s thesis. This type of learning is called Research-based learning, a variety of Problem-based learning

During the programme, you will learn through tackling projects like:

• using genome editing to bring the superior flavour of heirloom tomatoes into modern varieties

• refining AI models to predict plant growth in our on-campus high-tech greenhouse

• developing an intellectual property strategy to protect biotech innovations

• characterising the nutritional value of vegetables to improve consumer diets

• measuring plant volatiles with advanced nanosensor platforms

• collaborating with a startup on biological alternatives to synthetic fertilisers

• evaluating sustainable greenhouse designs for circular production

Career Opportunities

• Biotechnologist at an international plant breeding company 

• Innovation consultant at a food production chain

• Engineer at a greenhouse construction firm

• R&D director at an agri-tech company

• Professor at a university or research institute

• Policy advisor in new agricultural practices

• Advisor greenhouse sensor system integration

• Science communicator

• Owner of your own start-up company