Eusun Han’s journey to Aarhus University began in a rather unexpected place. As a young student Eusun was drawn to literature and journalism. “I was captivated by the power of storytelling and truth-seeking,” he says. His studies took him to Malaysia. However, a pivotal moment at an international meeting on agriculture near his home in South Korea redirected his focus towards agriculture and its crucial role in environmental sustainability. “I turned my face to agriculture because I found it was important, mainly for the environment and how we produce food for the growing global population,” he reflects. 

This new-found passion led him to India (Tamil Nadu University), where he immersed himself in agricultural sciences. During the 4 years, Eusun had a chance to have a close look at the impact of modern practices on Indian environment and farming communities. This led him to continue to a MSc in Sustainable Int’l Agriculture in Germany, where he had an opportunity to conduct an agro-sociology study in Rwanda by interviewing over 150 local farmers. From the storytelling by the farmers, Eusun learned the importance of plant-soil interactions for soil health and farm productivity. As a result, he pursued his career in Academia as a PhD fellow (University of Bonn, Germany) and dared himself jumping on to studying crop root systems and soil health. “I found the intricate interactions between roots and soil really fascinating,” he recalls. 

Innovative solutions 

During his PhD, Eusun found that studying roots was hard. “I was faced with the laborious task of digging a lot, and I thought there had to be an easier way” he recalls and laughs. During his postdoc at University of Copenhagen, he, indeed, invented a couple of easier ways himself. With the help from colleagues, he developed innovative research-tools requiring less digging, which became an important part not only in his own work but also for wider research communities. “I became a tool maker,” he says with a smile. One of the tools was digital and based on Machine Learning, simplifying the root observation. Another was an isotope-based tracer system and protocol that allow researchers to study roots without extensive excavation. “It wasn’t an easy task to develop these tools, I am no engineer, but luckily I received enormous support from my colleagues, and I learned a lot from them,” he says.  

A global perspective  

Eusun’s research has taken him across the globe, from India, Germany, Rwanda, Denmark and recently Australia from where he has just returned. There he worked on improving drought resilience of farming systems as a Marie-Curie Global Fellow. “It is a funny story, actually. I was supposed to study how crops can use the water in a better way in dry conditions, but the time I spent in Australia was far from dry, in fact they were two of the wettest years they have experienced”. He adds “No one can control the weather, rather we should learn to predict it better and to be ready for the worse to come, which was the entire point of my research in Australia”. The international experiences have provided him with a broader perspective on the challenges and opportunities in agriculture, particularly in diverse climatic conditions. 

Coming back to Denmark and to perennials 

In 2023 Eusun and his family moved back to Denmark, this time to Viborg. Now as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at Department of Agroecology, Eusun is engaged in forming a strong research team in Sustainable Perennial Cropping Systems. “Perennial crops have been very important part of my root-research,” said Eusun. “They produce green biomass all year around supporting the life of animals and soils, and therefore also humans. Also, their deep root systems can make the crops use resources more efficiently. But the problem is, we don’t grow them enough. So, I am very grateful to the Department for giving me the opportunity and support to change that story,” Eusun says. Prior to joining the Department of Agroecology, Eusun had already acquired NNF starting package grant with the promise that he will successfully expand the perennial cropping systems to make our agriculture more sustainable. “I am sure this will be an exciting academic career path for me and so thrilled to work with my new colleagues on that together.”, says he while clenching his fists.   

Sapere Aude research leader  

Eusun has ambitious goals for his research and career to become a world-leading scientist in perennial cropping systems as well as root research.  Indeed, the very next step for Eusun is to carry out his new research program entailing both components as Sapere Aude research leader. In his new project called “PerennialTraits” his goal is to develop novel deep-rooting perennial crops that can produce food for humans, such as grains, over multiple years without the need for replanting. “Having the grains is certainly an advantage over other conventional perennial crops. In the meantime, perennial grain crops also have deep root systems, therefore more sustainable to grow compared with our modern annual grain crops” he explains. “These crops can reduce nitrate leaching, improve soil health and climate resilience contributing to sustainable agriculture. However, the lower yields of perennial grain crops have hindered their widespread adoption by farmers, and this “PerennialTraits” project aims at looking at both challenges by improving the productivity while incorporating the sustainability to our modern agriculture”, he says. “If successfully developed, these new perennial crops will substantially change how we produce food.”  

Couldn’t do this without the support of his family  

Eusun makes no secret of the fact that he wouldn't have come this far in his career if it weren't for his family. While studying in Germany, he met Ning Huang from China. Since then, Eusun and Ning have travelled the world together with their two sons Gyuseo and Mao. The family has lived in several different countries before deciding to settle in Denmark. "My boys love Denmark," he says. "They make a lot of friends here, they enjoy school, and they already re-learned their Danish after we returned from Australia."  

It was also not entirely by chance that the family chose to move back to Denmark. "When I applied for the position at AU Viborg, my wife and I agreed that Denmark, especially, Viborg is a place where we could see ourselves living for many years. It’s a great place for children to grow up, and I can nurture my academic career, and so can my wife.” he explains. “I am just grateful for my family stays healthy, safe and happy during our nomadic-life for past several years amidst the global pandemic. For me, that is the most important victory.” 

Growing with students and young team 

Eusun knows very well how a good mentorship can boost the career of young researchers. “For me, it was Dr John Kirkegaard (CSIRO, Australia) who did that. John, one of the greatest living agronomists there is, showed me how to do a good science, and what it means for the society”, says Eusun. “John has connected me deeply into his network, and that was the game changer for my career. Suddenly, I was visible to others. That is very important for young people to advance their career – to be recognized for what they are doing.” Says Eusun. “Surely John is my role model, and I will do my best to do the same for my students and the young team.”  

What will the future hold? 

As Eusun looks to the future, his commitment to sustainable agriculture plays a big part. He envisions a world where perennial crops play a central role in feeding a growing population while preserving the environment. “I believe that with the right research and collaboration, we can develop agricultural systems that not only meet our food needs but also take better care of our planet,” he says. “The work we're doing today is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see how far we can go.”