As the third in our series exploring IRISCC facilities throughout Europe, this article highlights the TERRA Environment is Life Ecotron in Belgium, a key research platform equipped to address the escalating impacts of climate change, including severe heatwaves, persistent droughts, and agricultural stress.
As climate change accelerates extreme weather across Europe, rising summer temperatures and prolonged dry spells are placing severe stress on agricultural systems. Addressing these compounding threats requires moving beyond reactive measures to proactive, data-driven science. Through the IRISCC network, researchers and decision-makers can access leading European facilities to evaluate how crops, soil dynamics, and agro-ecosystems adapt to intensifying climate pressures under controlled conditions.
Located at the University of Liège in Gembloux, Belgium, the TERRA Environment is Life Ecotron provides a specialized experimental platform to test and model these exact agricultural risks.
By replicating field conditions within a controlled laboratory environment, the TERRA Ecotron enables scientists to assess how shifting rainfall patterns, extreme heat, and atmospheric gases impact crop performance, nutrient leaching, and overall agroecological sustainability.
We encourage researchers, decision-makers, and innovators focusing on agricultural resilience, soil health, and climate adaptation to leverage this infrastructure. Physical and remote access to the TERRA Ecotron is available through the IRISCC network.
Explore the service catalogue and submit your project proposal at iriscc.eu/catalogue-of-services. Proposals can be submitted through our Fast Track mechanism for urgent research, or via our 4th Call for Access, open through 15 October 2026.
The IRISCC demonstrators are advancing towards the second service release, planned for September 2026. This
IRISCC Demonstrators are pilot projects that showcase the potential of combining data and expertise from
IRISCC offers a comprehensive suite of services that integrate data, facilities, expertise, and advanced tools
