Partner News
NIAB: Funding opens up NIAB wheat transformation resource to plant research community
NIAB has been awarded £620,000 to provide a community resource for wheat transformation.
The five-year project is funded by the BBSRC’s Biological and Bioinformatic Resources fund (BBR) and will give UK plant scientists free access to the most efficient public wheat transformation system currently available anywhere in the world.
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JIC: Plant interaction with friendly bacteria gives pathogens their break
In two papers to be published in Current Biology, researchers from JIC and The Sainsbury Laboratory on the Norwich Research Park, and Rothamsted Research and the University of York identify genes that help plants interact with microbes in the soil.
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RRes: Rothamsted Wheat Trial: Second generation GM technology to emulate natural plant defence mechanisms
Scientists from Rothamsted Research are conducting a controlled experiment, combining modern genetic engineering with their knowledge of natural plant defences to test whether wheat that can repel aphid attack works in the field.
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ADAS: Testing the concept of sustainable intensification
The project on sustainable intensification (SI) was carried out by John Elliott of ADAS and Professor Les Firbank. It was commissioned by the inter-agency Land Use Policy Group (LUPG), a UK network of statutory environment and conservation agencies interested in the interplay between farming and the environment within the context of the concept of ecosystem services.
The LUPG SI project will contribute to the evidence base on SI and should help to inform the development of policy.
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ADAS: Farmer engagement is key to improving water quality
Catchment management specialist David Johnson says water companies can make cost-effective improvements to water quality by targeted engagement with farmers to reduce diffuse pollution at source.
In a number of catchments ADAS is currently helping water companies work with farmers to implement practical mitigation strategies and subsequently gather evidence to determine the efficacy of stewardship and the length of time it takes to yield detectable improvements.
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BSPB - Plant Breeding Matters - Autumn edition
Highlights:
"Defra’s Green Food Project is a significant step towards a more inclusive and strategic approach to food policy."
"Field to Market – New metrics for sustainable agriculture."
"BSPB has donated £10,000 to support the charitable work of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) in helping farmers, farm-workers and their families in time of financial need."
"Quality seed production – a farmer’s view."
Full edition (pdf)
General News
EPSRC/BBSRC/TSB
Call for Innovation and Knowledge Centre in Synthetic Biology
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) would like jointly to invite expressions of interest to establish an IKC in Synthetic Biology.
Led by academic institutions, IKCs are intended to accelerate the commercialisation of world class science and emerging technologies into new products, processes or services. Designed to foster collaboration and deliver competitive advantage to the businesses with whom they interact, IKCs possess expert knowledge and understanding of core science and technologies.
The UK Roadmap for Synthetic Biology (pdf) recommended that an IKC be established in synthetic biology to provide the important function of academic / business integration. This call will provide up to £10M of funding over an initial 5 years to help commercialise synthetic biology technologies in a responsible way.
Deadline: 20 December 2012
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BBSRC: £20M investment for UK synthetic biology research
In a move that could potentially revolutionise major UK industries and help meet serious social and environmental challenges, BBSRC has announced an unprecedented £20M worth of synthetic biology projects. The funding was announced by the Chancellor George Osborne. The six projects focus on biotechnology and advanced bioenergy and will use synthetic biology to investigate major global challenges, such as producing low-carbon fuel and reducing the cost of industrial raw materials. The funding will also help to build a world-leading synthetic biology research community in the UK.
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