Climate controlled compartments might be used to compare crop performance at different light, temperature and humidity regimes using new or existing varieties. Compartments could be used to assess novel approaches to pest or disease control in a controlled environment. Nutritional research on a range of crops could be undertaken to develop precision fertigation regimes.

Our 3D metal printer manufactured by DMG Mori uses additive manufacturing to create prototype products using production-grade material. Designed to be used with either CAD or 3D Modeling this equipment can be used to model and produce highly specialised end-use parts with complex geometry or structures. Furthermore, due to the inbuilt processes, errors in modelling can be rectified prior to the commencement of printing, resulting in a higher level of accuracy in the end product. The use of a metal 3D printer can enable fast prototyping, reduced manufacturing costs, improved product quality or product customisation.

Our 3D metal printer manufactured by DMG Mori uses additive manufacturing to create prototype products using production-grade material. Designed to be used with either CAD or 3D Modeling this equipment can be used to model and produce highly specialised end-use parts with complex geometry or structures. Furthermore, due to the inbuilt processes, errors in modelling can be rectified prior to the commencement of printing, resulting in a higher level of accuracy in the end product. The use of a metal 3D printer can enable fast prototyping, reduced manufacturing costs, improved product quality or product customisation.

A suite of software and equipment to design, protoype and test a range of sensors is available. Sensors can be functionalised to develop biosensors using smart polymers designed in-house and tested using scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, Raman microscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis (particle sizing), XRD, single-crystal diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence, contact angle analysis, rheometry and polarising optical microscopy.

Growth rooms are available for experiments to assess plant growth at controlled light, temperature and humidity levels. Such chambers might be used to identify optimum growth conditions for plants, or to identify the full growth or yield potential of a crop plant by providing optimum growing conditions over an extended period of weeks or months. One chamber can be run at lower temperatures offering the opportunity to conduct vernalisation work. It could be used to investigate optimum temperatures for long term storage of plants, or for calculating the chilling requirement of dormant plant material.

Planted in 2015, the research vineyard is used for both scientific and demonstration purposes. It has been set up to reflect UK commercial practice and provide an essential tool to test upstream innovative practices. The aim of our applied research is to improve grape yields and juice quality whilst using resources responsibly and sustainably in ways that can be implemented in the UK’s cool-climate commercial vineyards.

With the establishment of a research vineyard in 2015, NIAB scientists need to produce sparkling and still wines to evaluate the impact of vineyard treatments on wine quality. The rapidly expanding English wine industry requires research support to extend the range and quality of wines available. The research winery was constructed in 2022 to create the first bespoke R&D Wine Innovation Centre in the UK.

The WET Centre was set up in 2017 to demonstrate ‘best practice’ in precision irrigation and explore innovation in environmental control and precision fertigation. It is currently funded by industry partners who provide the latest technology in soilless substrates, data loggers and data capture, irrigation technology, and environmental control. The Centre demonstrates how commercial growers can safely reduce their water use whilst maintaining or improving yield and quality. It has further evolved to demonstrate ‘best practice’ in environmental control and precision fertigation, helping the industry to maximise yield and profitability with improved resource use efficiency and sustainability.

The Plum Demonstration Centre was established at East Malling in 2015 as partial fulfilment of an Innovate UK funded project which set out to improve the profitability of UK grown plums. Previously funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, it is now supported by a consortium of UK plum growers who are currently using it to demonstrate ‘best practice’ in tree management, irrigation, and nutrition.

Following the opening of the then ‘Wye College Fruit Experiment Station’ in 1913, early work focussed on the relationships between tree anatomy and rootstock vigour. The growth and physiology of roots were studied extensively in root trenches with plate glass sides enabling in-situ field studies, where roots could be observed through the glass and root growth measured using grids etched into the glass. In the 1960s a more sophisticated root-laboratory was constructed and is today called the ‘East Malling Rhizolab’.

The horticultural industry is continually evolving and innovating to meet the changing demands of customers, consumers and the ever increasing need to manage our environment and grow our crops in a more sustainable way. Before new products are introduced to the industry, they must be scientifically evaluated and compared to existing controls. NIAB offers trials services to allow such evaluation to take place.

Tissue and cell imaging enables the investigation of the structural, functional, and physiological attributes of plant cells in both standard and stress-induced growth environments. Numerous technologies have been devised to facilitate this. These tools furnish not only anatomical insights into plants at tissue, cellular, and subcellular tiers, but also enable the visualization of the spatial-temporal fluctuations in essential cellular activities, such as mitosis, morphogenesis, and cytoskeleton dynamics. Moreover, they allow for the examination of the distribution and kinetics of particular molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and other metabolites.

NMR enables in-depth analysis of crop metabolomics, aiding understanding plant biochemistry under diverse conditions. Crop companies benefit by refining cultivation techniques, trait selection, and enhancing quality. It also serves as a tool for crop product quality control, confirming compound presence and identifying contaminants. In pesticide/herbicide analysis, NMR informs the development of eco-friendly formulations. It contributes to breeding programs, revealing chemical profiles for traits like nutrition, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. NMR sheds light on stress responses, guiding the creation of resilient varieties. Additionally, it assesses nutritional content, aids in metabolic engineering, monitors crop storage, and plant-microbe interactions for strategic applications.

High-performance mass spectrometry is a dominant tool for interrogating the metabolomes, peptidomes, and proteomes of a diversity of plant species under various conditions, revealing key insights into the functions and mechanisms of plant biochemistry.