Sensors, multiomics and plant phenotyping increase agri-food system resilience
Agricultural technologies and tools can support sustainable and resilient agri-food systems and food security in the face of climate change. For example, they can help farmers detect plant stress early, fine-tune fertilisation strategies and determine the optimal harvest time. They can also support them in identifying ideal crop mixtures to enhance yield and quality while conserving resources. The Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) spearheaded the EU-funded STARGATE project aimed at expanding UCP’s capacity in areas including sensing technologies, multiomics, plant phenotyping, data analysis and predictive modelling. With its multitude of scientific and commercial outcomes, STARGATE has laid the foundations for UCP to become a centre of excellence in high-performance agri-food technologies in Portugal and on the international stage.
Teamwork unleashes the agri-food tech potential of UCP
Three world-class institutions joined UCP in the STARGATE twinning project. The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment is Europe’s leading agricultural research institute and ranks second globally in agricultural sciences. Wageningen University & Research has built a strong reputation in plant phenotyping, including advanced 3D reconstruction of plants and the integration of robotics for automated experiments. The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research is renowned for its work in plant genetics and crop science, particularly in conserving and leveraging crop diversity.
Knowledge, tools and commercial sensor development
STARGATE facilitated the mobility of early-stage researchers (ESRs), who actively participated in three training schools, five workshops and eight short-term scientific missions at partner institutions. “These institutions provided infrastructure for hands-on training of ESRs and the opportunity to develop essential skills under the guidance of renowned experts. They also supported data management and analysis in doctoral students’ experiments and shared best practices in research and project management benefiting UCP staff,” explains STARGATE project coordinator Manuela Pintado of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at UCP. STARGATE also established standardised protocols for data acquisition at UCP. “These protocols, covering areas including environmental characterisation, data mining and data analysis, will ensure efficient, independent and uniform procedures leading to enhanced reliability and comparability of outcomes and deeper insight,” continues Pintado. In addition, the project showcased the potential for translating research into practical, marketable solutions for the agri-food industry with its smart sensor for grape maturation. “It leverages sensor technology, plant phenotyping data analysis and deep learning. The funding provided through this project was instrumental in helping us accomplish these technical and commercial milestones, driving both academic growth and new business opportunities,” Pintado notes.
Shared commitment to a more resilient agri-food future
The active engagement of STARGATE project partners and stakeholders supported the creation of STARGATE’s Knowledge Hub to accelerate progress, providing practical insights and support for professionals and researchers involved in agricultural innovation. The Hub hosts scientific publications and information about technologies, ongoing projects and funding opportunities. There are also links to technology and service providers, related networks and stakeholders to encourage collaboration. STARGATE has paved the way to a leading European position of UCP and Portugal in plant phenotyping technologies. Beyond this, the project and its Knowledge Hub will support stakeholders in the agri-food co-creation ecosystem to begin or expand the use of sensing technologies, robotics, data modelling and AI as transformative tools for the agri-food sector.
Keywords
STARGATE, agri-food, plant phenotyping, agricultural, multiomics, robotics, sensing technologies, AI, agritech, plant stress
