Translational biology aims at applying basic research to improve life quality. In collaboration with the University of Nanjing (China) we are transfering our knowledge on stem cells from Arabidopsis to solve problems in plant biomass production. The rapidly increasing demand of plant biomass, for example wood, cannot be easily compensated by conventional breeding programs. We have therefore developed a program to induce pluripotent stem cells from tree tissue via activation of stem cell regulators that were initially discovered in Arabidopsis. These induced stem cells subsequently are used to generate trees via somatic embryogenesis. This program targets to propagate rapidly growing tree varieties, such as hybrid pines, cypresses, or tulip trees (Liriodendron), and use them on reforestration. However, our method is not limited to trees but can applied to all agrocultural important plants where regeneration is inefficient (most of the important crop plants).