BBSRC-funded research highlighted during Universities Week

16 June 2011

Research funded by BBSRC in the area of food security has been highlighted in a publication to mark Universities Week.

Marked for its importance in the future of food, the 'Virtual Root' - a computer model created by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Nottingham - will be used to inform crop breeding programmes. Such programmes would produce plants that have enhanced root characteristics to help with drought tolerance, nutrient uptake, salt tolerance, carbon sequestration, and more.

Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive said "We set out some important new ways of working in our delivery plan and this is an excellent example of what can be achieved using systems and interdisciplinary approaches.

"Some of the greatest challenges we face at the moment will be met when biologists work together with talented researchers from across disciplines."

The report, "Big Ideas for the Future" looks at 100 ground breaking pieces of University-based research from all fields including natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, arts, and humanities. It is published today (16 June) by Universities UK and Research Councils UK (RCUK). Other featured BBSRC funded research includes work by the University of Birmingham on genes for meiotic recombination in plants and also work on the effects of High Intensity Interval Training on cardiovascular and metabolic health.

For more information see: www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/2011news/Pages/110615.aspx

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