NPEC

Infrastructure and User Services 

The Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC) is a national research facility being developed in Wageningen and Utrecht. It comprises six integrated experimental modules designed to study plant responses under both controlled and field conditions:

1. Ecotron Module: Features 36 mesocosm systems for in-depth plant ecosystem analysis, examining plant traits, performance, and belowground interactions in controlled environments.
2. Plant Microbe Interaction Module: Utilizes high-throughput robotic systems to study plant-microbe interactions incorporating advanced imaging techniques such as fluorescence, infrared, hyperspectral, and 3D imaging. and  systems for high-throughput isolateion of microbes.
3. Multi-Environment Module: A series of 15 climate chambers with the highest level of homogeneity in temperature, humidity and light intensity available, for precise experiments on plant responses to environmental factors, including temperature (-5° to 40°C), humidity (35-90%), light, and CO₂ levels. This module is integrated with and advances the phenotyping facilities available in the Plant Microbe Interaction Module.
4. High Throughput Growth Room Module: Enables automated high-throughput phenotyping in five climate-controlled rooms, incorporating advanced imaging techniques such as fluorescence, infrared, hyperspectral, and 3D imaging.
5. Greenhouse Module: Supports whole-plant phenotyping from seedling to harvest using a plant-to-sensor conveyor, a sensor-to-plant gantry, and an autonomous mobile scanning device.
6. Open-Field module: Employs mobile drone- and vehicle-based phenotyping systems for field studies, with transportable autonomous vehicles and UAVs equipped with cutting-edge sensors.

Together, these modules provide a comprehensive platform for investigating plant-environment interactions, enhancing research on plant resilience and adaptation.

Examples/description of the type of research 

NPEC's advanced infrastructure will support cutting-edge research on plant-environment interactions, allowing scientists to investigate how plants respond to environmental factors, microbial communities, and ecosystem dynamics with high precision. Researchers will study genetic and physiological traits of plants under controlled conditions, assess their resilience to climate change, and explore interactions between plants and microbes using high-throughput imaging and metabolomics. Additionally, the facility will enable large-scale phenotyping of crops in both greenhouse and open-field settings, providing valuable insights into plant adaptation, stress tolerance, and agricultural sustainability. This research aims to contribute to the development of climate-resilient crops and promote more sustainable agricultural practices.

How to access the infrastructure

Users can request access to a specific compartment or growth room in one of the six modules, where the first contact is explorative with one of the facility managers. If a decision on use is made, and funding is available, a request to use the facility is made. The operational manager then schedules the experiments and drafts an experimental plan of all the aspects how to grow the plants, in which climate and how to phenotype/ measure plant growth. The access request mechanism is linked to aligning with users on their needs and ideas, and the available technology. Until this moment we were able to match and schedule all incoming suitable requests, and with smart and transparent scheduling we could offer services to all our users.