Tzyy-Jen Chiou's research team is dedicated to understanding how plants sense external phosphate availability and uncovering the molecular mechanisms that regulate phosphate absorption and transport. The team aims to improve the efficiency of phosphate absorption and utilization in crops. Achieving this will help address limited phosphate rock resources and the environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilizer application, ultimately paving the way for sustainable agriculture. The team discovers that plants govern phosphate absorption and transport via microRNAs in response to varying soil phosphate levels, thereby maintaining intracellular phosphate homeostasis. This research represents a breakthrough in the field.