Plant Production & Tropical Systems
prof. dr. Eduardo de la Peña
Plant Production & Tropical Systems focuses on research aimed at the sustainable cultivation, protection, and management of tropical, subtropical, and emerging crops. The group contributes to advancing sustainable agriculture through research on new crops and the ecological foundations of crop production and protection. Our work examines how crop diversity, management practices, and ecological interactions influence pest dynamics, crop productivity, and resilience in agroecosystems. Rooted in agronomic ecology, we study crop diversity, crop–pest, and multitrophic interactions across spatial scales, from individual plants to landscapes, to understand how these relationships shape crop performance and how agrobiodiversity supports key ecosystem services such as pollination and pest regulation. We work primarily on tropical and subtropical crops, both in their natural regions of origin and in newly introduced areas, linking ecological understanding to the development and adaptation of new crops. By combining field experiments and sustainable crop management strategies, we aim to understand the mechanisms underlying these interactions and to optimize natural processes, developing practical solutions that enhance yield, agrodiversity, and sustainable crop production.