
C-SPIRIT
Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture Through Global Collaboration and Innovation
With support from government, academia, and industry, we aim to transform agricultural resilience on a global scale, contributing to a stable food supply, environmental health, and societal well-being.
5
Countries
80+
Members
6
Aims
20+
Institutions
Breaking News
C-SPIRIT Represents at the Great Lakes EXPO!
December 12th, 2025
C-SPIRIT members Maricar Macalincag, Ashley Stender, Sue Rhee, Toon Suzuki, Nicholas Schlecht, and Katherine Rivera-Zuluaga attended and staffed our booth at the 2025 Great Lakes EXPO that took place December 9-11 in Grand Rapids, MI!
The C-SPIRIT booth had plenty of visitors including growers, industry representatives, and other exhibitors. We were able to share our work with people all across the US Midwest and made many valuable connections. We can’t wait to return next year!


Publication from C-SPIRIT Members within the Rhee Lab at Michigan State University!
November 17th, 2025
Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members Karine Prado, Matt Stata, Charles Hawkins, Sue Rhee from Michigan State University as well as their colleagues on the publication of their manuscript “Photosynthetic acclimation is a key contributor to exponential growth of a desert plant in Death Valley summer” in Current Biology! This study uncovers how Tidestromia oblongifolia rapidly acclimates to extreme heat: reshaping its chloroplasts and mitochondria, shifting gene expression within days, and boosting photosynthetic efficiency even at 45°C. These discoveries reveal powerful mechanisms underlying heat-resilient photosynthesis. Click here to read the article, and click here to read the press release!
Who We Are
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.

