New climate chambers at AIT Tulln: key technologies for sustainable agriculture
Tulln, 25 April 2024 - Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and the Center for Health and Bioresources of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology opened the new climate chambers at the University and Research Centre Tulln on 25 April. The facility serves as an advanced research infrastructure for answering key questions in agriculture, particularly with regard to climate change, biodiversity and sustainable food production. The project was realised in cooperation with the state of Lower Austria and supported by EU funding. It aims to facilitate industry-orientated research and thus develop innovative solutions for the challenges facing agriculture.
"The opening of the climate chambers in Tulln is a clear commitment to research and innovation in Lower Austria. These facilities are a central part of our strategy to establish the region as a leading location for agricultural research and sustainable development in Europe. By promoting cutting-edge research, we are not only supporting our local agriculture, but also helping to tackle the challenges of climate change and food security," emphasised Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria.
Diverse research opportunities under real conditions
The new climate chambers at the AIT offer the possibility of precisely simulating a wide range of environmental conditions. These facilities allow the effects of climate change on agricultural production to be analysed in detail under real conditions. "Thanks to this advanced technology, we can not only select the most resilient plant strains that can withstand extreme weather conditions, but also develop customised solutions for agriculture. Our research is directly aimed at increasing crop security while developing environmentally friendly fertiliser and pesticide solutions that have less impact on ecosystems," explains Alexander Svejkovsky, member of the AIT Management Board. "In close collaboration with industry partners, we endeavour to quickly put these innovations into practice in order to contribute directly to sustainability and productivity in agriculture."
Use of digitalisation and artificial intelligence for precise agricultural research
The integration of state-of-the-art digital technologies and artificial intelligence is a decisive step in the development of the new climate chambers at the AIT. These technologies allow us to record and analyse complex environmental data with high precision. By using sensors, algorithms and artificial intelligence, we can recognise patterns and correlations in the data that remain hidden to the human eye. These findings make it possible to precisely understand and predict specific reactions of plants to changing climatic conditions. As a result, not only can more effective cultivation methods be developed, but resilient plant varieties can also be specifically bred and more environmentally friendly pest control and fertilisation strategies introduced. This technology-supported research makes a significant contribution to adapting agricultural production to the rapidly changing global climate conditions and thus ensuring food security in the long term.
Microbiome research for environmentally friendly solutions and future orientation
A key research goal in the AIT's climate chambers is the development of microbiome-based solutions that serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pesticides and fertilisers. These innovative approaches are crucial to minimising the environmental impact of agriculture while increasing the efficiency and productivity of crops. The work in the climate chambers is closely linked to the objectives of the EU Fertiliser Regulation, which calls for a reduction in harmful environmental impacts and paves the way for the use of sustainable agricultural technologies. By promoting the development of specially adapted microorganisms that improve both soil health and plant resilience, this research helps to promote sustainable cultivation methods that are ecologically compatible and economically beneficial.
Shaping the future through sustainable research
Research at the AIT makes a significant contribution to more environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture. With the help of the new climate chambers, we are developing advanced solutions to meet the challenges of climate change. These facilities enable the breeding of resistant plants and the development of environmentally friendly fertilisation methods. They set new standards in agricultural research, promote efficiency in food production and contribute to environmental protection.
The Competence Unit Bioresources: https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/bioresources
