Supporting your transition to automated plant phenotyping

In an era of global warming and continued global population growth, the pressure on the agricultural sector is increasing to produce more food than ever before. Plant research plays a critical role in the development of new and improved crops that thrive under changing environmental conditions.

With the increasing pressure to innovate quickly and develop new crops, plant researchers are faced with the challenge of scaling up. However, the number of people who can perform this work is limited and are also becoming scarcer. That's why there is a growing interest in automation as a solution.

Implementing automation in plant research facilities is often perceived as challenging; it requires very specific knowledge and for most people it is not their day to day business. Researchers often lack knowledge on automation technologies and automation experts often lack knowledge of how to handle plant material. In high-tech horticulture, automation for scale-up has been the norm for years. Using that knowledge and experience is key to successfully implementing automation in plant research facilities.

With more than 25 years of experience in automating greenhouses and plant research facilities, WPS is the expert in high throughput handling of plants in controlled environments. To support the research community with this expert knowledge, WPS now launches a consultancy service.

WPS Consultancy offers a comprehensive range of services to facilitate the transition to automated plant research:

• Feasibility studies: a thorough analysis of the current plant research process to determine the feasibility of automation. Our feasibility studies go beyond surface evaluations; we dive deep into your current plant research setup and exmine variables such as crop types, experimental setups, data collection methods and environmental factors. 
• Program of requirements: outlining the specific goals and objectives of the automation project, as well as the key performance indicators that will be used to measure success.
• Project Scope: definition of the scope of the project, including the specific aspects of the p process that will be automated, and the timelines for implementation.
• Concept Design: we work together on developing a concept design for the automated system, including a detailed description of the system architecture and the key components to be used.
• Proof of Concept: we provide a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept design and validate the system requirements and performance.
• Budgeting: we assist in preparing a realistic budget for the project, taking into account the costs associated with design, development, and implementation of the system.
• System Design and Specifications: we deliver detailed system design and specifications for the automation system, including the hardware, software, and communication interfaces to be used.

With this comprehensive support, WPS aims to facilitate the transition to automated plant research and contribute to a more efficient, sustainable future for the agriculture sector. Reach out to discover how our expertise can support your transition to automation.