Press release

Nine new varieties have been added to the British Society of Plant Breeder’s 2023 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists (DL), published today.

This will make it easier for crop breeders and researchers to select plants, or discover genes, based on marker patterns (genotypes) and desired traits (phenotypes).

Drones have great potential in plant breeding and crop research, collecting large-scale 2D/3D visual information from plants in field trials relatively easily and cost-effectively. Until now, it was difficult to use the data collected for reliable trait analysis and genetic mapping.

Starting in August Peter will join an established team of research scientists, crop specialists and field/laboratory technicians at NIAB, widely known for providing potato R&D, services and advice across the UK and beyond. He will be leading the development of NIAB’s potato agronomy research and industry partnerships, technical services and consultancy activities, with a focus on the practical application of research outputs from across the organisation.

A new early-season plum variety Malling™ Elizabeth, with exceptional eating quality, has been released today (13th July 2022) at the Fruit Focus event in Kent.

The Victoria-like fruit, which are firm yet both sweet and juicy, has been launched by Malling™ Fruits, the marketing brand for NIAB’s fruit varieties from its site at East Malling, together with leading UK top fruit propagator FP Matthews.

Commercial strawberry yields have been doubled using Total Controlled Environmental Agriculture conditions, indicating a huge potential for utilising high quality plant material of leading everbearer varieties in new vertical farming practices, says crop research organisation NIAB.

The two-year project involves an industry consortium and will receive just over £350K. The new project will provide useful new information on the effect of cover cropping and mechanical weeding strategies on soil health. It will also lead to grower guidance on bespoke cover crop mixes to alleviate soil compaction, improve soil nutrition and control nematodes. Guidelines to support transition towards net-zero carbon emissions will be drawn up alongside this.

The Hub will provide the UK horticulture and viticulture industry with access to a new state-of-the-art research facility. It includes 2,000m² of specialist glasshouses, 14 modern polytunnels, growth rooms and cold rooms.

Crop science organisation NIAB has welcomed today’s (10th May 22) announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the UK Government will bring forward new primary legislation, The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, to take certain precision breeding techniques out of the scope of restrictive GMO rules - where the resulting plants could have occurred naturally or through conventional breeding methods.

The projects will not only help the industry reduce its impact on climate change, helping to reduce carbon emissions, cut food waste or improve the efficiency of resources such as water and energy, but also enable food crops to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

NIAB has become the first UK crop science organisation to sign up as a knowledge partner to the global Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) initiative. 

This will ensure NIAB’s pioneering research to reduce the climate impact of crop production is accessible to support international action and collaboration on this critical issue.