Media releases
2010
UK researchers release draft sequence coverage of wheat genome
A team of UK researchers, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), has publicly released the first sequence coverage of the wheat genome. The release is a step towards a fully annotated genome and makes a significant contribution to efforts to support global food security and to increase the competitiveness of UK farming.
Research Medal for John Innes Centre scientist
Professor James Brown of the John Innes Centre, an Institute of BBSRC, has been awarded the Royal Agricultural Society of England Research Medal in recognition of his work to combat cereal diseases. The Research Medal is presented for work of outstanding merit carried out in the UK, which is proven or likely to be of benefit to agriculture. Professor Brown’s work has been vital in protecting wheat production in the UK and is continuing to combat the threats crop diseases pose to UK food security.
New funding announced to beat food poisoning bug
Up to £2M is being made available today to tackle the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK - Campylobacter. Three of the UK's main public funders of food safety research have come together to invite research proposals to find out more about the organism and how best to control it. To provide safe and nutritious food for a growing world population it is important to reduce the incidence of food poisoning. Campylobacter species are responsible for more than 300,000 cases of food poisoning a year in England and Wales.
New strategy to tackle food poisoning bug
A new research strategy to tackle the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK has been launched today.
The UK’s main public funders of food safety research have joined together to publish a co-ordinated strategy to investigate the food bug Campylobacter. This is the first time these organisations have agreed to a common set of objectives to tackle the problem.
The re-emergence of a destructive cereal disease poses a threat to UK wheat production
BBSRC scientists are advising farmers to change their fungicide regime to help prevent loses to a destructive cereal disease. Fusarium Ear Blight (FEB) is a destructive fungal disease of cereals including wheat and has the potential to devastate a farmer's crop just weeks before harvest. Over the last 10 years, on average, 38% of wheat crops in the UK had the disease. Scientists at Rothamsted Research, an institute of the BBSRC, have discovered substantial symptomless infection in wheat ears, which means that although the plant appears healthy the fungal infection could already be beyond the control of the farmer. Hence, our scientists are advising farmers to use fungicides as a preventative measure rather than a curative approach.
Could our minds be tricked into satisfying our stomachs?
The key to losing weight could lie in manipulating our beliefs about how filling we think food will be before we eat it, suggesting that portion control is all a matter of perception. BBSRC-funded studies showed that participants were more satisfied for longer periods of time after consuming varying quantities of food when they were led to believe that portion sizes were larger than they actually were. Memories about how satisfying previous meals were also played a causal role in determining how long they staved off hunger. Together, these results suggest that memory and learning play an important role in governing our appetite.
Disinfectants may be contributing to antibiotic resistance
Cleaning products for use in commercial, agricultural and domestic settings could be contributing to a rise in bacterial resistance in food borne pathogens including Salmonella, BBSRC-funded scientists at Birmingham University have found. They recommend a decrease in the “frivolous” use of biocides, particularly in domestic products to ensure the number of resistant bacterial strains does not increase. Improving the control of bacteria that cause food poisoning reduces losses and wastage throughout the food production pipeline thus helping to ensure future food security.
New discovery could aid development of elusive bovine mastitis vaccine
Researchers have discovered components of the bovine mastitis-causing bacterium, Streptococcus uberis that play a key role in the disease. This discovery could lead the way to finally developing a vaccine for this endemic disease, which costs UK farmers alone nearly £200M per year, requires the large scale use of antibiotics, causes pain to cows and dramatically reduces milk yield. A solution to this problem will be an important contribution to the future security of our food supply in the UK. The research is due to be published in Veterinary Research.
Helping plants to help themselves
With the need to feed an ever increasing world population, we must reduce crop yield losses in new, sustainable ways. A paper published in the journal Food Security by Dr Toby Bruce from Rothamsted Research (an institute of BBSRC), emphasises the need to reduce crop losses caused by pests.
16 new transnational projects to address global challenges
Brand new projects have been launched in Paris this week to meet major global challenges - including food security - using a systems biology approach. The projects involve partner organisations across Europe and are funded under the ERASysBio+ scheme, which includes Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funding for 12 of the 16 projects, which all include at least one UK partner. BBSRC’s investment is €7.7M out of a total investment of €24M.
Study uncovers optimal ecology of bio-insecticide
BBSRC-funded researchers at the University of Oxford and Royal Holloway University of London have discovered that the commonly used and naturally occurring bacterial insecticide Bt works best if applied to young plants and is enhanced by the presence of the insect pests. The research is published today (20 May) in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens.
Vaccination still best option for controlling ovine enzootic abortion despite possible link between vaccine and disease
Scientists from Moredun Research Institute in Edinburgh, funded under the BBSRC Combating Endemic Diseases of Farmed Animals for Sustainability (CEDFAS) initiative, are encouraging sheep farmers to continue to vaccinate against Ovine Enzootic Abortion (OEA) on the day that they publish research that shows the vaccines used to control OEA in UK sheep could themselves cause abortion.
New screen for safer food crops
John Innes Centre scientists are working on a way to screen crop plants for toxic accumulation. The genetic screen will be particularly useful for crops grown in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa.
Modern farming and healthy butterfly populations can co-exist through better management of land
The way grassland buffer strips are maintained could have a significant impact on improving biodiversity on farms, according to BBSRC-funded research carried out by the University of Reading. Over a two-year period, Reading PhD student Robin Blake managed to almost double the number of butterflies on existing grass buffer strips, by finding an effective way of encouraging wildflower growth.
Major new research effort targets key pig diseases
A consortium of researchers in Cambridge and London has been awarded a £5M LoLa (Longer and Larger) grant from BBSRC to develop a way of diagnosing and preventing respiratory diseases in pigs. These bacterial diseases are a major animal welfare issue and cost the pig industry millions of pounds every year through both morbidity and mortality.
UK research community unites to help ensure future food security
The UK’s main public funders of food-related research and training will today (11 March) join together to launch a new programme aimed at meeting the challenge of providing the world’s growing population with a sustainable, secure supply of good quality food using less land and fewer resources
Public-private research partnership to develop improved crops for food security
A new research initiative has been launched to accelerate the development of improved crops with higher yields and consistent, high quality products. The £6M Crop Improvement Research Club (CIRC) is led by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)…
New Director for John Innes Centre
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the John Innes Foundation and the John Innes Centre Governing Council have announced the appointment of Professor Dale Sanders FRS as Director and Chief Executive of the John Innes Centre (JIC).
Genome of crop pest reveals nature of a complex symbiosis
New research into the genome sequence of a major feed pest, funded in part by a joint BBSRC/ANR initiative, is providing an unprecedented opportunity both to understand its biology and to help to develop biological methods of control - with significant implications for food security.
Study shows China could reduce fertiliser use and maintain food security
A study published in Science shows that over-use of ammonium-based fertilisers in China has caused soil acidification that is 100 times greater than that associated with acid rain. This has implications for the protection of ecosystems and their biodiversity and has led to a significant rise in emissions of the harmful greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. In addition, large amounts of nitrogen are released as ammonia which further contributes to acid rain.
Scientists take on global livestock threat to reduce poverty and increase food security
£13M of new research is being launched today to tackle the significant and growing threat posed by livestock diseases to global food security and livelihoods in developing countries. More than 900 million people in the developing world live below the poverty line in rural areas. Just one animal can meet a whole family’s needs, offering individuals a way out of poverty. But deadly and debilitating livestock diseases jeopardise this and lead to an increase in food prices.
Plants under attack send finely-tuned aromatic cry for help
These odours often act as distress signals, which attract natural enemies of the insect pests. The research, carried out in collaboration with the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya, reveals that the quality of these signals in terms of blend composition and chemical identity can be more important than the total amount of odour released. This study is published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.
£15M scheme to train hundreds in vital food security R&D
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is today (10 Feb 2010) committing up to £15M to establish training for food security research and development. The Advanced Training Partnerships scheme is announced at the same time as the launch of the new industry-led AgriSkills Strategy, which is being launched by Lantra (the sector skills council for environmental and land-based industries) and NFU with support from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Scaling-up key to meet food security challenge
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is today (18 January) meeting with 50 leading agri-food scientists to identify coordinated ways to translate lab-based research into farm-scale projects to address the future global food security challenges.
Only greater agricultural science co-operation will deliver production and sustainability gains
Farmers, scientists, the food industry and the Government must work more closely if UK agriculture is to increase production while protecting the environment.
That was a key finding of two pieces of unique research into future agricultural science needs revealed at the Oxford Farming Conference today (6 January 2010).
BBSRC welcomes new science research strategy for food security and sustainability
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the UK’s largest funder of agriculture and food related research, has welcomed and pledged its support for the new science research strategy to help improve the security and sustainability of our food system launched by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Professor John Beddington.
2009
New website explores food security challenge
A new website – www.foodsecurity.ac.uk – was launched last night (10 December) to explore the issues around the looming challenge of feeding a global population predicted to reach 9Bn by 2050, and the world-class UK research already underway to help avert a potential crisis.
Consultation launched to shape new investment in agricultural research facility
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has today (26 November) launched a consultation on the details of a proposed investment of over £1M in a new farm-scale research facility at North Wyke Research in Devon.
Key seed size gene identified
Scientists from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK and the University of Freiburg in Germany have uncovered a gene in plants that is responsible for controlling the size of seeds, which could lead to ways of improving crops to help ensure food security in the future.
Scientists produce first draft of pig genome
A global collaboration, supported in the UK in part by BBSRC, has produced a first draft of the genome of a domesticated pig, an achievement that will lead to insights in agriculture, medicine, conservation and evolution.
Scientists discover how to send insects off the scent of crops
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded research, published this week in Chemical Communication, describes how scientists have discovered molecules that could confuse insects’ ability to detect plants by interfering with their sense of smell. This could reduce damage to crops by insect pests and contribute to food security.
Potato blight plight looks promising for food security
Over 160 years since potato blight wreaked havoc in Ireland and other northern European countries, scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) finally have the blight-causing pathogen in their sights and are working to accelerate breeding of more durable, disease resistant potato varieties.
BBSRC at Royal Show 2009
BBSRC, the UK’s largest funder of agriculture and food related research, will have a significant presence at the Royal Show 2009 for the iconic agricultural show’s last ever event this week, 7-10 July. BBSRC will be highlighting current activities to avoid a food security crisis, and to boost the green economy through sustainable bioenergy, while the Institute for Animal Health will be running daily sessions on the threat posed by Bluetongue.
New model predicts impact of new agricultural techniques and climate change on farmland ecosystems
A consortium of scientists have presented a new way of modelling ecosystems that can predict the impact on farmland ecology of climate change, other environmental changes and novel farming practices. The research is published in Ecological Modelling.
Consultation launched on future research for food security
The UK’s biggest funder of agri-food research, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), has launched a consultation on future research to tackle the growing but preventable food security crisis.
BBSRC Chief Executive calls for better coordination and increased funding to ensure food security
In an interview this morning with the BBC, Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, called for better coordination and more funding for agri-food research in order to avoid a looming food security crisis.
Insight into fish disease to help protect farmed fish stocks
Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have gained a key insight into a disease that is devastating the UK’s fish farming industry. The researchers have discovered that fish can harbour and spread proliferative kidney disease (PKD), a cause of major stock losses on fish farms, as well as being affected by the infection.
Completed cattle genome could improve beef and dairy production
Scientists are tomorrow (24 April 2009) publishing the complete cattle genome in the journal Science. UK researchers, supported in part by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), have played a key part in the annotation and analysis of the genome as part of a 300-scientist collaboration, spanning 25 countries.
New publication highlights role of plant science in delivering food security
With rapid global population growth, a changing climate and disruption to global trading patterns threatening our food supplies, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is funding research to help provide us with enough food for the future.
Summit convened to map out route to sustainable food security
A meeting today in Central London is bringing together leading scientists, policymakers and funders with farmers, food manufactures and retailers to identify the challenges to delivering sustainable food security and the science we need to overcome them.
Wheat genome project to underpin food security
An extensive genetic analysis of the wheat genome will be carried out by researchers at Bristol University, the University of Liverpool and the John Innes Centre, thanks to a £1.7M grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
