Understanding how plant–soil interactions shape productivity and soil health is key to making intercropping a viable alternative to monocultures. The LEGUMINOSE Summer School “Understanding Contemporary Plant–Soil Feedback in Intercropping” offers a dedicated space to explore this topic, with a strong focus on soil health, soil microbial communities and nutrient dynamics in legume–cereal systems.
Designed for graduate students, early-career researchers and practitioners, the summer school provides a combination of lectures, hands-on training, and field visits. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of how plant–soil feedback can be assessed and how it affects crop performance and soil fertility in intercropping systems.
Applications are now open for those interested in joining the summer school in Florence.
Practical details
- Dates: 19–21 May 2026
- Location: University of Florence, Italy
- Participation limit: 30 participants
- Registration deadline: 31 March 2026
- Fee: €300 per person (includes course materials, refreshments, lunches and one social dinner; travel and accommodation not included)
Program details
All details about the program and organisation are available in the event flyer below
Meet the speakers
The summer school brings together leading researchers and practitioners working at the forefront of soil ecology, plant–soil interactions, and sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Norman Gentsch
Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany
Norman is a soil scientist focusing on soil organic matter, nutrient cycling, and plant–soil interactions. His work explores how soil biological processes influence ecosystem functioning and sustainable land management, with particular attention to carbon dynamics and soil health in agricultural systems.
Dr. Bruno Steinkraus
SOILYTIX, Germany
Bruno is Founder and CEO of Soilytix GmbH, a company specialising in soil microbiology diagnostics for agro-ecosystems. With a background in biochemistry and molecular biology, he focuses on translating complex microbial data into practical tools to support soil health and farm management.
Dr. Luiz A. Domeignoz-Horta
INRAE, France
Luiz is a microbial ecologist studying how soil microorganisms and plant diversity interact to shape ecosystem functioning. His research combines lab and field experiments to understand carbon cycling and soil processes, with the aim of supporting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Prof. Paolo Nannipieri
University of Florence, Italy
Paolo is a leading expert in soil biochemistry, with a long-standing career in studying soil enzymes, microbial activity, and nutrient dynamics. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of soil functions and their role in sustainable agriculture.
Dr. S. Emilia Hannula
Leiden University, Netherlands
Emilia is a soil ecologist specialising in plant–soil interactions and soil microbial communities, particularly fungi. Her research focuses on how soil biodiversity supports plant health, ecosystems, and ultimately human wellbeing.