University of Essex builds new lab to develop climate-resilient plants
The university said it is the first in the UK to have a commercial standard vertical farm and that the lab is the only one in the country to combine all the facilities.
A new £3 million laboratory has been built at the University of Essex, looking to ensure future food security across the UK.
Researchers aim to develop climate-resilient plants, with an indoor field working to mimic and replicate real environments anywhere on the globe, as well as suites that imitate a warming world.
CO2 concentration and temperature levels are also able to be adjusted by researchers at the new facility, revealed today.
It has a commercial-standard vertical farm - described as a first for a UK university - and computer plant-scanning technology will also be used to monitor plants as they grow. Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers.
Research at the centre, called the Smart Technology Experimental Plant Suite (STEPS), will be underpinned by AI and robotics that will help develop new ideas, technologies and strategies to predict how agriculture and the natural world are changing.
The university said it is the first in the UK to have a commercial standard vertical farm and that the lab is the only one in the country to combine all the facilities.
Biologist Professor Tracy Lawson, who is leading the project, told Greatest Hits Radio the Smart Technology Experimental Plant Suite (STEPS) is a "state-of-the-art growth facility".
"It gives us the the capability to look to see how our plants will perform in tomorrow's atmosphere, today. And that's what we really need to do, because there's no point in producing a plant today for today's atmospheres when we're really thinking about feeding the world and the future of crop production."
"I think the uniqueness of this is actually everything together, so it's all under one roof all in one space."
Professor Lawson, who is also the Director of the University of Essex's Essex Plant Innovation Centre (EPIC) says the use of the facility gives them an "unparalleled opportunity" to make sure plant science at the University of Essex stays at the forefront in the UK and globally.
"This is not just Essex. This has to be on the bigger scale, and we're a part of that, which is great.
"But there's many other research that's out there, that's really strong in the UK, and I think this adds to that UK capability."
It was funded in part by grant-giving organisation the Wolfson Foundation, which pledged £1 million.
Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: "We are in a race against time to futureproof agriculture against climate change, not just in the UK but globally.
"The University of Essex is leading the way in critical research and development to support innovation and sustainability in food production, and we are delighted to be funding the technology platforms that will help them achieve this."
British agricultural technology company, Innovation Agritech Group (IAG), is collaborating with the university on the project and installed the vertical farm.
Kate Brunswick, business development director at IAG, described it as the "first commercial vertical farm within a UK university".
"This milestone collaboration embodies our collective dedication to driving positive change in agriculture," she said.
"We eagerly anticipate the transformative impact this facility will have on agricultural resilience and productivity."