Research | Root2Res

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

Jul 17, 2024 | News

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.

Jülich exceeds expectations with the workshop on Root Phenotyping

Feb 22, 2024 | News

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 project

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

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

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

Root2Res, ever closer to local users for stable yields and improved soil properties

The EU-funded project gathered in Spain in parallel to the Mission Soil Week, reflecting on a first year pursuing root systems ready for climate change

ROOT2RES 1st Annual Meeting: Cultivating Innovation in Santiago de Compostela

Nov 21, 2023 | News

Excitement is brewing as ROOT2RES, the European project focused on enhancing crop resilience through innovative root systems, gears up for its First Annual Meeting in Santiago de Compostela. Scheduled from November 21st to 23rd, this event promises to be a dynamic confluence of insights, updates, and collaborative discussions.

Agenda Highlights:

🌿 Introduction of the SCAB and Core Sites: The meeting kicks off with an insightful introduction to the Scientific and Community Advisory Board (SCAB) and an exploration of the project’s core sites.

🌐 Work Package Updates: It will take place a comprehensive overview of the progress made across the work packages. From root phenotyping tools to genetic markers and modeling, each update unveils the intricate layers of research contributing to the project’s overarching goals.

🔬 Living Lab Visit in Vigo: A highlight of the event is the immersive visit to Vigo’s Living Lab. Participants will witness firsthand the application of innovative root systems and gain insights into how these technologies are implemented in real-world agricultural settings.

🌍 Closure with SCAB Feedback: The meeting concludes with a valuable session featuring feedback from the Scientific and Community Advisory Board. This open dialogue ensures that ROOT2RES continues to evolve and align with the latest advancements and community needs.

Stay Connected: Follow ROOT2RES on social media for live updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and highlights from this groundbreaking Annual Meeting. Together, we’re cultivating a future where resilient crops pave the way for sustainable agriculture!

Root2Res at Les Culturales

Jul 30, 2023 | News

Root2Res has participated in Les Culturales, the French biggest field show dedicated to arable crops and organized by ARVALIS. This year, the event gathered 15 000 participants over 2 days, mainly producers, advisors, scientists but also students and policy makers. It was an amazing experience as it was the first time Root2Res joined a large scale fair and met with its french stakeholders.

Root2Res project held a workshop gathering 12 participants with a wide range of profiles (breeders, producers, advisors, agronomists, scientists) in order to determine the priorities in terms of root traits to be further investigated in relation to limiting production factors. It was also discussed the current limitations of root systems phenotyping regarding the different objectives (breeding, agronomic study, measurements in farmers’ fields) and to discuss possible innovations and tools to overcome them.

In addition to this workshop, a visit to the technical area of the show was organized to illustrate the work carried out on root systems by ARVALIS and its partners, notably in relation with roots phenotyping methods. It was an opportunity to demonstrate how soil pits and minirhizotrons work and the root-related information they enable to capture.

Finally, a specific booth dedicated to European project had also been set up and served as a forum for raising awareness among farmers and other agricultural operators of the issues addressed by Root2Res project and the contribution of root systems to the resilience of cropping systems in the face of climate change.

Here you can see some of the pictures that were taken in the event. Thank you to everyone that participated and took photos having a great time there!

Pictures:

Twitter – @CamilleHarel4

Root2Res

ICARDA is offering a PhD fellowship

Jul 27, 2023 | News

A new position has opened within Root2Res, as ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) aims to hire a researcher in the ICARDA Environment for Moroccan nationals and candidates who have a current residency in Morocco.

All candidates must submit their application before the 1st of August by following this link.

The successful applicant will carry out research that will organize and carry data collection with Phenomobile of the Root2Res trials in Morocco; organize and carry phenotypic data collection in the field and in the Physiotron experiment; Implement trait prediction models based on phenotypic data collection and remote sensing data as well as assisting in any other activities of Root2Res project.

The candidate will be granted a 12-months research fellowship, renewable to a maximum of 48 months subject to satisfactory performance, continuous need of the position and availability of fund.