Event news: May 2012

CPPS-sponsored events:

EPSO "Plant Power" event – summary

On Sat, 19th MAY, CPPS led event, Fascination of plants – Plant power was held at the University Botanical Gardens.

Several hundred visitors of all ages came through on the day and were engaged, educated and entertained with a variety of hands-on activities and displays organised by CPPS members. Visitor participation was high and there is a notable interest from exhibitors in running similar events in the future. A more detailed summary including photographs from the day will be published on the CPPS website in due course.

Next CPPS-sponsored events:

THU 28th JUNE: Breakthrough technology: crops for the future

NIAB Innovation farm, 9:30 – 16:30

This joint NIAB Innovation Farm - CPPS event will explore the contribution of new technology such as hybrids and C4 photosynthesis. The morning session will consist of presentations and single slide poster pitches before heading out to view NIAB Innovation Farm field and glasshouse exhibits.

To find out more visit www.innovationfarm.co.uk. To book visit www.niab.com/shop. ONLY £36 (inc VAT).

If you are interested in presenting a one-slide pitch, have material that you would like to display at the workshop or have ideas for inclusion in the 2013 programme please contact kate.parsley@niab.com.

General events:

WED & THUR 13th & 14th JUNE – Cereals event

Boothby Graffoe, near Leadenham, Lincolnshire
Many CPPS members will be exhibiting at Cereals which is the leading technical event for the UK arable industry with over 64ha of stands and live demonstrations by over 470 leading suppliers and up to 30,000 visitors.
Further information

TUE 19th JUNE - Cultivating food quality (Sponsored by PBL & Seminis)

Visitor centre, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, 10.00-16.00
Find out how demand for crops with a range of end-use properties is driving breeders to explore inherent quality traits such as protein type, starch quality, high milling yield and resistance to pre-harvest sprouting.
Further information
To book a place at this event: www.niab.com/shop/item/177
NIAB Innovation Farm is jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), industry and academic partners.

TUE 19th JUNE - ADAS Rosemaund Open Day - Focus on Weed Control & Identification

Burnt House Grain Store, Gatsford, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QW (on A449 not far from Ross), 12:00-16:00
FREE event/Hog Roast
Further information

TUE 26th JUNE – Insect Supersense

Rothamsted Conference Centre, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, start 19:30
'How insects use odours to find mates and food and how we can make use of this.' Part of 'National Insect Week'.
Further information

Partner news: May 2012

Science and industry club together to deliver better crops

Three CPPS members have new industry-relevant crop science projects funded as part of the Crop Improvement Research Club (CIRC)

The research is aimed at delivering improvements to the main UK cereal crops - oilseed rape, barley and wheat - so boosting efforts to ensure food security. Nine projects were funded overall - together, they represent an investment of over £4M by BBSRC, the Scottish Government and 14 companies including plant breeders, farmers and food processors.

The three projects by CPPS members are:

• Professor Andy Greenland, NIAB - Production of wheat lacking B-type starch granules
• Professor Peter Shewry, Rothamsted Research - The role of lipids in determining gas bubble retention in wheat dough
• Dr Richard Whalley, Rothamsted Research - Phenotyping root function in wheat

Further information

JOHN INNES CENTRE: Fine mapping wheat genes

Researchers at the John Innes Centre have shown how next generation sequencing techniques can be used in mapping genes more quickly and efficiently than has been possible before.
Further information

ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH: Launch of globally unique farm research platform

A new 'Farm Platform', launched at Rothamsted Research North Wyke in Devon, aims to help farmers to optimise productivity in ways that are sustainable, whilst at the same time understanding the impact of farming methods on the environment. It will bring together scientists from across disciplines and countries to spark new ideas to meet the food security challenge.
Further information

RREs: Plant perfumes woo beneficial bacterial

Scientists at Rothamsted Research have discovered that maize crops emit chemical signals which attract growth-promoting microbes to live amongst their roots. This is the first chemical signal that has been shown to attract beneficial bacteria to the maize root environment. By deepening our understanding of how cereals interact with microorganisms in the soil their research aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to increase cereal yields sustainably to feed a growing world population.
Further information

RRes: Attack on Aphid-resistant wheat trial

An intruder attempted to break into RREs experimental trial on Sunday, 20th May, causing property damage but failing to disrupt the experiment. The individual responsible has been arrested and charged by Police.
Further information