Available facilities by partner
An overview of the phenotyping, field and computing facilities available across NordPheno partner institutions, to support applications to the mobility programme. This list is being expanded as partners contribute their information; institutions not yet listed will be added soon.
University of Helsinki (UH), Finland – Coordinator
- NaPPI – National Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure: indoor high-throughput phenotyping with a conveyor-belt system that transports plants to a range of imaging sensors (RGB, thermal and chlorophyll-fluorescence) for time-series data collection, with automated weighing-based watering. Includes the Compact NaPPI controlled growth chambers.
University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark
Facilities are located at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Taastrup campus.
- Plant Facilities & Workshops (PLEN): central unit providing plant-growth facilities from growth chambers to several hectares of experimental space, plus equipment and technical support.
- Greenhouse facilities, Taastrup: approx. 4,000 m² across several units, with multiple irrigation systems, EC/pH-regulated fertilization, CO₂ supply, full-spectrum LED lighting, climate control and data logging; includes areas classified for GMO work and pest containment.
- PhenoLab: fully automated, high-capacity phenotyping platform with individual-pot weighing and irrigation and multispectral, thermal and fluorescence imaging for non-destructive phenotyping of development and stress responses.
- RadiMax (RadiBooster project): semi-field facility for phenotyping root growth, drought resilience and nutrient uptake, combined with multi-location field trials and AI-based analysis of phenotypic and multi-omics data.
- Automated spraying cabinet: variable driving speed, pressure and nozzle size, used for experiments and teaching (e.g. herbicide application).
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway
NMBU is part of PheNo – the Norwegian Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure.
- Controlled-environment phenotyping: TraitFinder, a multispectral 3D laser-scanning system in the Åsbakken greenhouses, measuring morphology and spectral traits in a single scan; portable handheld sensors for physiology, photosynthesis and spectral measurements (planned).
- Field phenotyping: drone phenotyping with RGB, multispectral and thermal imaging; a wireless soil-sensor network at Vollebekk logging soil temperature, moisture and conductivity hourly across the field station; a field phenotyping robot (e.g. head counting).
- Seed phenotyping: QSorter high-throughput seed phenotyper (30 seeds/second) using RGB and NIR spectroscopy to measure seed size and shape, chemical composition (protein, moisture) and detect seed-borne diseases (e.g. Fusarium).
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
Expertise: IoT, edge computing and AI for agriculture.
- IDUN HPC cluster: GPU-based high-performance computing supporting AI model training, image analysis and simulation. (Further facility details to be confirmed by NTNU.)
The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Norway
The Climate Laboratory is a research station shared between UiT (Department of Arctic and Marine Biology) and NIBIO, at Holt in Tromsø. In addition to the indoor facilities, research fields are available locally as part of NIBIO’s research farm. UiT is also a partner in PheNo – the Norwegian Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure.
- Phytotron: year-round controlled-environment conditions (light quality and quantity, temperature and humidity) in isolated units (~3.5–11 m²), with options for natural or artificial lighting; ordinary greenhouse rooms are also available.
- Spectral lab: imaging sensors ranging from non-invasive 3D multispectral scanners (PlantEye F600 from Phenospex, in MicroScan or TraitFinder configurations) to hyperspectral imaging (Specim FX10e and FX17e), covering the visible to near-infrared range (~400–1700 nm).
- Molecular lab: multiple labs housing equipment for molecular analyses, alongside more specialized sensors used in phenotyping workflows.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
SLU offers a range of research infrastructures – laboratories, greenhouses, databases and field stations – many open to external users and supported by expert staff. Highlights at SLU Alnarp:
- Biotron (SLU Alnarp): research facility with climate chambers offering high precision and accuracy in controlling temperature, humidity, light and carbon dioxide.
- SITES Lönnstorp Research Station: dedicated to cropping-systems ecology – the design, sustainable development and assessment of arable cropping systems in conventional and organic farming; open to research in ecology, agronomy, environmental science and agroecology.