Introducing the Root2Res Podcast: Root Phenotyping and Genetic Improvement for a Resilient Future

Introducing the Root2Res Podcast: Root Phenotyping and Genetic Improvement for a Resilient Future

The Root2Res podcast kicks off by diving into the heart of the project’s mission: enhancing crop resilience through innovative root system research.

In this introductory episode, project coordinators Jean-Pierre Cohan and Timothy George share how the Root2Res initiative came to life, how the consortium was formed, and what drives this ambitious effort. They walk through the project’s core objectives, planned activities, and the significance of this work in addressing climate challenges.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

Future episodes will take a deeper dive into the concepts and methods developed within Root2Res. presented in an accessible way for researchers, breeders, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture.

Listen to the podcast here:

Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest episodes, insights and discussions as we uncover the potential of root phenotyping and genetic improvement in the face of environmental change.

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...
Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This international conference, organized by the University of Edinburgh, will bring together researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in the field of rhizosphere. The event will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and will highlight the role of rhizosphere research in addressing global challenges.

The conference program is structured around three key themes: Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Climate. Each session will integrate two of these themes, fostering comprehensive discussions on plant-soil interactions in the context of environmental change. This interdisciplinary approach will promote collaboration and provide insights into the interconnected challenges of agriculture and ecosystem sustainability.

Several Root2Res partners will contribute to the conference:

Additionally, Root2Res will co-host a joint session with our sister project Barley MicroBreed, titled Manipulating the Rhizosphere with Crop Genetics, led by Mette Vestergaard (Aarhus University, Denmark).

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...

Early bird registration for Rhizosphere 6 is open until March 31, 2025. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking event. Attendees are encouraged to register before the deadline to take advantage of discounted rates. Join us in Edinburgh for an inspiring exchange of ideas, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of how rhizosphere research can address challenges in agriculture, biodiversity, and climate. 

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA) in Rennes on August 29, 2024, are now available for viewing.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

During this event, Root2Res showcased four presentations focused on the development of climate-resilient crop systems through innovative root traits. These insightful sessions covered key aspects of the Root2Res project:

  • Introduction: an overview of Root2Res project.
  • Ideotypes Definition and Testing, by Christina Baxter (ADAS, UK).
  • Plasticity of Traits and Its Use to Study the Rhizosphere, by Jean-Pierre Cohan (ARIVALIS, Coordinator of Root2Res).
  • Root Phenotyping Toolbox for More Resilient Crops, by Katia Beauchêne (ARIVALIS)

You can now find these presentations on our Zenodo Community or you can simply access Zenodo through our Knowledge Center page.

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...
Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia. This regional event held in honour of the World Soil Day, was successfully organized by FEUGA on December 5th in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. With over 50 participants the event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of soil quality preservation and showcasing the latest innovative practices, with a special focus on their application in Galicia.

Key Themes Discussed

During the event, experts from Galicia’s three public universities presented their involvement in key European projects: AGROSUS, SoildiverAgro, MRV4SOC, FIREPOCTEP+, SUS-SOIL, AF4EU, DRYAD, MAR2PROTECT, and ALERT-PFAS. Innovative strategies and solutions to challenges such as carbon agriculture, biodiversity measurement, and the identification of contamination sources, with concrete results applicable to the local context, were discussed in two different roundtables.

In one of these panel discussions, our partner member and researcher at Universidade de Vigo, Adela Sánchez Moreiras participated as a speaker. During her presentation she had the opportunity to talk about Root2Res’s objectives and latest developments. She also actively engaged in the following discussion, adding valuable insights to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable soil management.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

Root2Res at Soil Hub Fair

The day concluded with the Soil Hub Fair, an interactive initiative where participants had the opportunity to discover success stories, explore project ideas, and establish key connections in the sustainable soil management field.

Root2Res was pleased to participate in the Soil Hub Fair, presenting a poster and contributing to the vibrant discussions around soil sustainability.

On this World Soil Day, we reaffirm our commitment to raise awareness and promote solutions for healthy and resilient soils. Take a look at the photos taken during the event!

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...
Root2Res Joins the EU CAP Network: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

Root2Res Joins the EU CAP Network: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

We are pleased to announce that Root2Res has become a member of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Network, a distinguished collaborative platform that brings together national CAP networks, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. This forum serves as a hub for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions in the field of sustainable agriculture. It plays a key role in supporting the implementation of CAP strategic plans that promote the advancement of agriculture, forestry, rural development, and environmental sustainability across Europe.

As a new member, Root2Res is committed to leveraging its expertise to support the goals of climate neutrality, reduce nutrient losses and fertilizer dependency, and enhance the management of natural resources.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

We will actively upload our practice abstracts and other publications to the EU CAP Network, which access you can also find in our knowledge center page. If you are committed to sustainable agriculture, forestry, and rural development in Europe, we encourage you to join the EU CAP Network and help us shape the future of agriculture and rural development through this collaborative platform.

Discover our EU CAP profile and stay tuned for more updates on Root2Res contributions to this important network.

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...

Root2Res will be participating in Soil Hub Fair at “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia” event on December 5th

Root2Res will be participating in Soil Hub Fair at “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia” event on December 5th

Root2Res is pleased to participate in Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia event on December 5th in Santiago de Compostela. Held in honour of World Soil Day, the event will highlight key European research advancements in soil health, including carbon farming, biodiversity measurement indicators, and pollution source identification. With a focus on the Galician region in northern Spain, the event aligns with Root2Res’ work, as Galicia is home to our laboratories where we conduct research in controlled field conditions, advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

In honour of World Soil Day and to raise awareness about the importance of soil preservation in Galicia, the event’s lead organizer, FEUGA, has prepared a series of activities aimed at promoting knowledge transfer and showcasing innovative practices.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

One of these key activities is the Soil Hub Fair, an exceptional networking opportunity designed to foster collaboration among various projects and initiatives dedicated to soil health and sustainability. It will feature a dynamic and interactive format, including posters, booths, flash talks, and practical workshops. Root2Res is excited to contribute by sharing its expertise and innovative practices in soil health with attendees, while also creating synergies between experts and projects in the field.

We can’t wait to be part of this exciting event! Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s celebrate World Soil Day together.

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...
Root2Res Highlights Innovations at PotatoEurope 2024

Root2Res Highlights Innovations at PotatoEurope 2024

 

 

 

 

Root2Res recently showcased its advancements at PotatoEurope 2024, held in Villers-Saint-Christophe, France, on September 11–12. The event drew around 15,000 visitors, with 80 key industry figures, including potato farmers, advisors, and economic operators, attending our session.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

Conference Highlights

Our presentation centered on comparing four advanced root phenotyping methods. Attendees were particularly engaged with how these methods can be used to identify and enhance both above-ground and below-ground traits, aiming for higher efficiency in potato breeding programs.

We also covered field methods for identifying and validating ideotype traits. This aspect of our session attracted significant interest as we demonstrated how these methods can be applied to real-world farming scenarios.

Soil and Root System Interactions

A key question from the audience was about our approach to soil and root system interactions. We explained that Root2Res takes soil types into account for trial characterization and modeling, ensuring our techniques are adaptable to various environmental conditions.

Overall, PotatoEurope 2024 was a great platform for sharing knowledge and discussing innovations in potato farming. For more details and photos from the event, visit the official ARVALIS page. 

For those interested in learning more about Root2Res’s innovations and how we are advancing potato farming, visit our Knowledge Centre where you can find a Practice Abstract related to measuring potato root traits in the ridge. You can also explore detailed information on our phenotyping methods, research findings, and the impact of our work on sustainable agriculture.

#PotatoEurope2024 #Root2Res #SustainableFarming

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...

Professor Tim George appointed President of the International Society of Root Research

Professor Tim George appointed President of the International Society of Root Research

Professor Tim George, Deputy Coordinator of the Roo2Res project and Deputy Director of The International Barley Hub (IBH) at The James Hutton Institute, has been appointed as the President of the International Society of Root Research (ISRR). This prestigious appointment recognises his significant expertise and contributions to soil and root science on a global scale.

The announcement was made during the ISRR’s Annual General Meeting at UFZ facilities in Leipzig, where George was elected following a rigorous process of peer nomination and voting by the ISRR’s international committee. With over 25 years of experience in plant physiology and soil science, specializing in nutrient dynamics in the rhizosphere, George’s leadership promises to further the organization’s mission of promoting cooperation and communication among root researchers worldwide.

Reflecting on his new role, Tim George expressed his enthusiasm, stating that “It’s a great honor to be elected President of the International Society of Root Research. I look forward to representing our team and contributing to the advancement of root biology research globally”.

Root2Res could not have been envisioned and materialised without Professor George’s impulse. The project ambition would be out of reach if not for the dedication and generosity of its coordination and researchers, who continue to play a significant role in advancing understanding of root systems and their impact on agricultural sustainability and environmental resilience.

For more on this subject, you can also find here an interview with Professor George on the quest for resilient crops: An interview with Root2Res deputy coordinator, Tim George.

Sharing innovations in precision phenotyping and root system analysis in Morocco

Sharing innovations in precision phenotyping and root system analysis in Morocco

Root2Res invited farmers and breeders to a field exhibition, showcasing a long-demanded toolbox for rapid assessment of crop traits below ground

During the recent workshop in Morocco, stakeholders convened to explore the latest advancements in precision phenotyping and root system analysis. Hosted in the Mediterranean region experimental site on February 28th, the event served as a platform to showcase technologies developed through collaboration between ICARDA, INRA, and CIMMYT.

The workshop kicked off with an introduction to the Root2Res project, which set the stage for an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge agricultural technologies. This was followed by a demonstration of the ICARDA-INRA Heat and Drought Precision Phenotyping Platform. Developed in collaboration with the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Morocco (INRA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), this precision phenotyping platform features a fully automated lysimeter, known as PhysioTron, housed within a rainout shelter. Equipped with a High-Throughput Phenotyping (HTP) system tailored for studies on drought and heat stress tolerance, this platform collects crucial data from various ICARDA strategic testing locations across its mandate region. These data are amalgamated and utilized to furnish elite germplasm to National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) partners. Additionally, the HTP system utilized in Root2Res, stationed at ARVALIS’ sites in Ouzouer le Marché -a transitional agroclimatic zone in France- and Gréoux les Bains -Mediterranean climate, also in France-, was showcased, providing attendees with insights into its operational capabilities.

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

Attendees also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Phenobuggy — a tractor-mounted, GPS-assisted multi-sensor head. Discussions ensued regarding the crop traits measurable through these devices and their pivotal role in breeding schemes. Notably, the Phenobuggy enables rapid and precise measurement of phenotypic traits such as green fraction, senescence, vegetation indices, leaf area index, biomass, spike number, and plant height. Conversations underscored the importance of developing proxy approaches that connect above-ground measurements with root traits.

Subsequent sessions delved into soil coring, root seminal angle measurement using the clear pot method, and shovelomics sampling, along with data collection employing WinRhizo. WinRhizo, an image analysis system tailored for root measurement, encompasses morphology, topology, architecture, and color analyses. The significance of standardizing root system characteristics for image analysis was discussed, alongside recognition of error dependency on the response variable of interest, potentially influencing effect size and error probability. Method validation for each analyzed dataset was deemed essential. Furthermore, insights were shared on how root system morphology influences crop adaptation to diverse soil types, drawing upon the experiences of ICARDA and INRA across different experimental stations in Morocco.

The concluding segment of the workshop focused on data analysis, machine learning, and phenomic selection. Breeders emphasized the need for approaches facilitating precise evaluation of genetic variability in quantitative traits, given their pivotal role in breeding endeavors. This necessitates the deployment of accurate, rapid, and cost-effective evaluation tools. For intricate traits such as yield, genomic selection emerged as a viable option, leveraging genome-wide marker data to estimate breeding values. Alternatively, phenomic prediction, facilitated by multimodal machine learning models, seeks to predict the performance of untested individuals through the amalgamation of genomic, phenomic, and environmental data. Consensus among participants affirmed the compatibility of this predictive approach in augmenting genetic gains in plant breeding.

By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices in root system analysis and phenotyping, the workshop emerged as a pivotal forum for the exchange of pertinent information pertaining to the agropedoclimatic conditions and specificities of the Mediterranean experimental site chosen by Root2Res, or Agroclimatic Zone 3 (ACZ3). Local demonstrators can be found in this website’s homepage

Recent posts

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

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Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...

Jülich exceeds expectations with the workshop on Root Phenotyping

Jülich exceeds expectations with the workshop on Root Phenotyping

The joint initiative of Root2Res, RootEd and WishRoots brought together researchers, students and end-users in a two-day controlled environment demonstration  

Sebastian Erdrich – FZ-J

With 58 in person participants and another 20 people registered online, the workshop on Root Phenotyping and Image Analysis held in Jülich proved the relevance of these practices for the agricultural systems of the future. Speakers from 8 different organisations combined theory and practice in a fully packed agenda, covering from nutrient availability to microbiota, from shoveling to imaging. The successful two-day event in a controlled environment is now to be followed by ICARDA with a demonstration on field conditions on February 28th in Morocco.  

Learn about Root2Res objectives and partnership

The facilities of the Forschungszentrum Jülich, in the German region of Aachen, witnessed the arrival of fellow researchers and end-users for a live demonstration on the 5th and 6th of February. Although within the context of the second Work Package of Root2Res, dedicated to the Phenotyping Toolbox, the initiative also featured project WishRoots and the doctoral network of RootEd as co-contributors, with invited speakers from the University of Bologna, UC Louvain and the University of Nottingham. The delegation of Root2Res was plentiful on its own: the James Hutton Institute, BOKU, CNR, UFZ and FZ-J themselves addressed the hybrid audience. Besides, the workshop welcomed representatives from Eurofins, PSI and Yara, for the agricultural value chain, and abroad students from the RootEd Winter School.  

The Phenotyping Toolbox is a series of innovative techniques for the rapid assessment of root traits in both field and controlled conditions. The in-depth characterization of root and related rhizosphere traits is based on envirotyping data, with three contrasting experimental soils chosen from the projects’ core phenotyping facilities Arvalis, ADAS, ICARDA, KIS, each located in a different agroclimatic zone. Root2Res will be presenting these methods next at Sidi el Aidi, Morocco, on the 28th of February.  

Two dozen stakeholders are expected to visit ICARDA’s hub, with the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN) funding the travel of two students from the European Union. Root2Res researcher Raffaella Balestrini (CNR) and Project Coordinator Jean-Pierre Cohan (Arvalis) are to accompany the visit, facilitating the exchange on these solutions with researchers, farmers and breeders facing changing environments. These workshops provide valuable information for the widespread adoption of Phenotyping Tools, the characterisation of species and the accuracy of future project trials. 

Recent posts

Root2Res at Rizosphere 6 June 2025

Root2Res will be participating in Rhizosphere 6 Rooting for Earth, taking place from June 16–19, 2025, in Edinburgh. This...

Root2Res Midterm Symposium Presentations Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the presentations from the Root2Res Midterm Symposium, held at the Congress of the European Society...

Root2Res At “Suelos Vivos” For World Soil Day Celebration

Root2Res was pleased to participate in “Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia”. This regional event held in honour...

These images were courtesy of Sebastian Erdrich and the Forschungszentrum Jülich