Our research | University of Essex

The Essex Plant Innovation Centre’s (EPIC) research embeds a focus on industry solutions in the everyday work of academics.

EPIC covers the breath of plant science, encompassing both the Life Sciences and Computer Sciences. The research undertaken at EPIC answers the fundamental questions and real-world problems of the agri-tech and environmental industries.

The funded projects our researchers are already involved in include innovation in robotic automation, the development of hydroponic systems and the use of LED lighting for plant growth.

Key research themes

Plant productivity
Soil health
Abiotic and biotic stress
Bio-aerosols and bioremediation
Machine learning and artificial intelligence
Agricultural robotics
Social and environmental impacts

State-of-the-art technologies

Plant phenotyping
Gene discovery
Remote sensing
Data analytics
Computer vision
Soft fruit picking and packing

Selected projects

An Internet of Things approach to smart agriculture

We've partnered with Middle East Technical University in Turkey, to develop near real-time processing of soil and environmental data using the Internet of Things. By improving knowledge of the conditions of fields we can enable early responses to droughts, pests or other issues that can damage crops and decrease yield.

Energy-harvesting sensor networks for environmental monitoring: Bridging the research-implementation gap

We're working with colleagues from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico, to develop a reliable wireless sensor network that will monitor forest areas at risk of wildfires to enable early detection of a fire outbreak.

Hy4Dense- Developing hydroponic systems for vegetables sown at high density

This collaborative project, carried out with partner institutions in the Netherlands and Belgium, will develop a novel hydroponic system for growing baby leaf salads.

Real-time crop health monitoring and early detection of plants diseases using IoT and computer vision

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, run in partnership with Wilkin & Sons, combines the Internet of Things and computer vision with expertise on plant disease to create a platform and that will monitor crop health, allowing early warning of a problem such as drought or pests.

Our activities

Research projects

Versatile-Configurable, Smart Indoor harvesting of 'Aubergine, Tomato and Strawberry' crops - CSEE, Innovate UK, Vishwanathan Mohan
Chlorophyll Fluorescence Signatures - Life Sciences, Gardin Ltd, Tracy Lawson
Robotic automation for transferring Lettuce plants from propagation floats to final growing float - CSEE, JEPCO (Globe) Limited, Vishwanathan Mohan
Foliair: Measuring the gas exchange of flat moss - Life Sciences, Foliair, Tracy Lawson
Design, manufacture and marketing of off-grid DC based LED lit growing systems focusing on vertical farming - Life Sciences, iGrowing Ltd, Tracy Lawson
Towards optimising biofumigation and pest control with mustard and radish plants: monitoring the soil microbiome via volatile organic compounds and next generation sequencing - Life Sciences, Enabling Innovation: Research to Application, Alex Dumbrell
Developing prototype VOC sensor-based products for determining soil health on-farm - CSEE, Innovate UK, Adrian Clark
Intelligent smart LED lighting for maximised crop yield - Life Sciences, EIRA, Tracy Lawson
Innovation Voucher with BioConsortia - Life Sciences, BioConsortia Inc, Tracy Lawson
To develop an automated multi-channel gas exchange system capable of measuring plant photosynthesis for extended periods of time, unattended - Life Sciences, ADC Bioscientific Ltd, Tracy Lawson
Waveney Mushrooms Innovation Voucher project - Life Sciences, Wavaney Mushrooms, Tracy Lawson
Gee Vee Innovation Voucher - Life Sciences, Gee Vee Enterprises Ltd, Tracy Lawson
Phenotyping Thai rice photosynthesis for sustainable rice production - Life Sciences, British Council, Tracy Lawson

Media mentions

BBC News video - Strawberry picking robot

Research flyers

Plant Productivity flyer (.PDF)