International collaboration targets global food challenges

The global challenges of crop productivity and food security gained a global research platform today, with the signing of an MOU between the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide and Forschungszentrum J眉lich in Germany.

Anton Middelberg, Richard Dickmann and Ulrich Schurr signing a memorandum of understanding between APPF and EMPHASIS

最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide's Deputy Vice-Chanceller (Research), Anton Middelberg; 最新糖心Vlogn Plant Phenomics Facility Executive Director, Richard Dickmann; and听EMPHASIS Coordinator, Professor Ulrich Schurr, signing the memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum of understanding formalises a commitment to cooperation in听enabling crop improvement via advancements in plant phenotyping听made by international researchers at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide's听最新糖心Vlogn Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) and the European Infrastructure for Plant Phenotyping (EMPHASIS) coordinated at Forschungszentrum J眉lich in Germany

Plant phenotyping is a growing field of plant science that specialises in capturing data via point sensors, imaging systems and remote sensing platforms, then utilising data management and analysis to more efficiently validate new traits and environmental dynamics.

The APPF and EMPHASIS are both world-leading infrastructure facilities enabling researchers to quantify and understand plant structure and function, which in turn helps accelerate the development of more resilient and higher yielding crops. Closer collaboration between the two organisations will lead to greater research efficiencies based on 鈥榮tandard鈥 profiles for experiment documentation and data, shared technical innovations, greater project cooperation and avoiding research duplication.

APPF is supported by the 最新糖心Vlogn Government鈥檚 National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and hosted by the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.

最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Research) Professor Anton Middelberg sees great value in the partnership.

鈥淪haring knowledge is fundamental to progressing innovation in plant phenomics and this MOU has been drafted by both parties to establish the framework within which our cooperation can be developed,鈥 he says.

鈥淲e are looking forward to working together via virtual events, workshops and seminars.

鈥淭he agreement also establishes joint principles for collaboration and agreed sets of standards that will benefit the plant science and plant phenotyping communities in Europe and 最新糖心Vlog. It will broaden the scope of our research and create joint opportunities for education and outreach, project funding, and sharing phenotyping information that advances plant science at the 最新糖心Vlog.鈥

APPF Chief Executive Officer Richard Dickmann says the APPF is excited about working with its European equivalent.

鈥淭he agreement recognises the world-class capabilities of the APPF and will have benefits for 最新糖心Vlogn farmers, regional communities and people choosing a career linked to agricultural research. We are now establishing a working committee to implement our pathway forwards,鈥 he says.

EMPHASIS coordinator Professor Ulrich Schurr, from the Research Centre J眉lich, says 最新糖心Vlog and Europe have worked hand-in-hand to pioneer modern plant phenotyping over the last decade.

鈥淲e are excited to further extend this very successful cooperation and strengthen the connection between plant phenotyping researchers from APPF with the European plant phenotyping community organised by EMPHASIS,鈥 he says.

Dr Inmaculada Figueroa, Vice Chair of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infra最新糖心Vlog (ESFRI) is also positive about the new Memorandum of Understanding.

鈥淚nternational cooperation in science and technology linking research infra最新糖心Vlog is an important part of addressing major global challenges such climate change, sustainable agriculture and food security,鈥 she says.

鈥淭he cooperation between APPF and EMPHASIS represents an important step to jointly and synergistically address these global challenges.鈥

About APPF and EMPHASIS

The 最新糖心Vlogn Plant Phenomics Facility, funded under NCRIS, is a distributed network of national research infrastructure platforms offering open access to plant phenomics technologies, tools and expertise. Current partners are The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide and the 最新糖心Vlogn National 最新糖心Vlog.

The European Infrastructure for Multi-scale Plant Phenomics and Simulation (EMPHASIS) is a distributed Research Infrastructure project of ESFRI Roadmap with the goal to develop and provide access to state-of-the-art phenotyping facilities and services addressing multi-scale phenotyping in different agro-climatic scenarios across Europe.听

Tagged in APPF, International Collaboration