News and events
Unkempt land could benefit farmersNew
Parts of the farm landscape that are overgrown are more important in supporting wildlife than they first appear, according to new research published today in Ecology Letters.
The findings stem from an intensive study of an organic farm in Somerset by a team of scientists focussing on the complex ways in which animals and plants interact. First, the team of researchers from the University of Hull, the University of Bristol and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, created one of the world's largest terrestrial food-webs…
The world’s favourite fruit only better-tasting and longer-lastingNew
Tomatoes, said to be the world’s most popular fruit, can be made both better-tasting and longer-lasting thanks to UK research with purple GM varieties. “Working with GM tomatoes that are different to normal fruit only by the addition of a specific compound, allows us to pinpoint exactly how to breed in valuable traits,” said Professor Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre. The research could also lead to GM varieties with better flavour, health and shelf life characteristics because even higher levels of the compounds…
Chelsea gold for ‘Food for the Future’ exhibitNew
Researchers from The University of Nottingham's School of Biosciences won a Gold Medal at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The exhibit was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and won the Best RHS Environment Exhibit Award. The University's exhibit, Food for the Future, showcases the latest plant and crop research to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and nutritious food - an area known as global food security…



