Imagine if we could see exactly how a plant's roots behave underground without digging them up. This project builds a high-tech toolkit to find plants with 'super-roots' that can survive both floods and droughts. By picking the right root shapes and traits, we can grow more food even as the weather becomes more unpredictable.
Climate change is causing unpredictable water levels and nutrient deficiencies, leading to crop failure. Traditional breeding lacks the tools to accurately measure and select for root traits that survive these stresses.
A package of phenotyping, genetic, and modelling toolboxes. This includes a test mesocosm system to measure how root traits change based on water availability.
If you are a seed company dealing with crop failure due to unpredictable rainfall — this project developed genetic and phenotyping toolboxes that identify root traits for better water stress resilience. This allows you to develop cultivars that maintain yields in harsh environments.
If you are a tech firm dealing with the lack of precise underground plant data — this project developed a test mesocosm system for assessing root plasticity. You can use these designs to create commercial sensors or imaging tools for root monitoring.
If you are a consultant dealing with soil degradation and nutrient loss — this project developed modelling tools to predict how different root types sequester carbon and use nutrients. This helps you recommend the best rotational crops for specific soil types.
Based on available project data, no specific pricing or cost information for the tools is provided.
The project focuses on delivering toolboxes for breeders and farmers, including field-testing and modelling tools to extrapolate results across different European environments.
Based on available project data, the specific IP and licensing agreements are not detailed in the summary.
The project runs from 2022-09-01 to 2027-08-31, indicating that tools are currently in development and testing phases.
The tools are designed for use in rotational cropping systems, specifically targeting cereals, potatoes, and legumes to fit into standard agricultural cycles.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward research and academia, with 10 research institutes and 7 universities. However, there is a clear path to market with 3 industry partners and 1 SME, representing a 14% industry ratio. The geographic spread across 13 countries ensures the tools are tested against diverse European soil and climate conditions.
Contact ARVALIS INSTITUT DU VEGETAL in France
Contact us to connect with the Root2Res consortium for early access to phenotyping toolboxes.
