News

Together with our partner, Photon Systems Instruments, we are currently finalising the designs for the NPEC’s high-throughput in vitro root phenotyper, the Hades. The system will enable quantitive description of root growth and architecture, and the localisation and quantification of fluorescent proteins expressed by plant roots or by root-associated microorganisms.

After careful deliberation and consideration of the global status of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the IPPN Executive Board has taken the decision to postpone its 7th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS7) to 2022.

In the Netherlands we have come a long way with the development of artificial intelligence, but we must invest more in its application, as in France. From 25 to 27 January, researchers and businesses – led by departing State Secretary Mona Keijzer – will take a look into the French digital kitchen. Ben Schaap of the Wageningen Data Competence Centre (WDCC) has a key role in the field of agriculture and food.

Utrecht University renovated the climate chambers of the Phytotron in the Hugo R. Kruyt building between March and November 2020. The Phytotron is the main research facility for the plant scientists of the Institute of Environmental Biology (IEB).

On 27th of November 2020 we have held an online seminar on Field Phenotyping organised by Fred Baret (INRAE) and Rick van de Zedde (WUR – NPEC). The aim of the workshop was to get to know each other better and explore collaboration.

On November 4-5, our partner SMO has delivered and installed two gantries in the NPEC greenhouse.