June 20, 2015
Advances in genomic research have already delivered vast amounts of data for plant research. However, to complete the picture, automated high-throughput measurement of crops under field conditions – known as phenotyping – is also required.
LemnaTec Corporation, with support from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), will design, build and install the largest and most sophisticated field phenotyping system on the planet. Dedicated to measuring bioenergy crops, the Scanalyzer Field System will be installed in time for the 2016 growing season.
“The Scanalyzer Field System agreement with ARPA-E is the first of what I hope will be many projects in the rapidly-developing North America phenotyping sector,” said Dirk Vandenhirtz, LemnaTec CEO. “LemnaTec is ready to meet the demand with a local presence to provide sales, service and support.”
The Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture (TERRA) program arose from a workshop convened by ARPA-E in the summer of 2014 with the mission to “develop tools that enable an increase in the rate and extent of genetic improvement of the yield of bioenergy crops grown in the field.” LemnaTec, the only company with the expertise and track record to integrate hardware, sensors and data analysis software on such a scale, was chosen to supply the field phenotyping system.
“As a plant physiologist, I am very excited about the Scanalyzer Field system,” said Dr. Edwin Reidel, North America business manager for LemnaTec. “Operating day and night, the giant portal crane will move a payload of advanced cameras and sensors across a research plot measuring over one acre in area, generating arguably the most detailed measurements ever recorded on crop growth, size, health, photosynthetic performance and more.”
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