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Delivering on global responsibilities

UK bioscience helps to tackle major global challenges such as the impact of climate change, food security and the threat of disease. We have run three joint calls (described below) with other funding agencies to provide funding for joint projects between scientists in the UK and in developing countries.

Sustainable agriculture research for international development (SARID) - 2008

In 2008 we launched a £7.5M programme with the Department for International Development (DFID). Sustainable agriculture for international development is focused on translating UK research on crop science into practical solutions and benefits in the developing world and aims to tackle some of the most damaging and widespread pests, diseases and harsh environmental conditions which can devastate crop yields in these areas.

Combating infectious diseases of livestock for international development (CIDLID) - 2009

In 2009 DFID, BBSRC and the Scottish Government made to £9.5M is available to support high-quality basic and strategic biological and biotechnological research into infectious diseases of the principal livestock species in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The aim was to enhance the livelihoods of the poor in these regions by improving livestock health, welfare and productivity by enabling more effective sustainable management of livestock diseases.

Sustainable Crop Production Research for International Development (SCPRID) - 2011

In a unique and important move to harness science to improve food security for millions of people in the developing world, BBSRC, DFID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Indian Government announced a £20M joint research initiative to fund teams from the UK, India and developing countries to work on research projects to improve the sustainability of vital food crops. The research will particularly investigate ways to improve the disease-resistance and stress-tolerance of staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Case studies

Nematode-resistant bananas

Technology developed with BBSRC and DFID funding at the University of Leeds and the John Innes Centre is being used to develop varieties of banana (see picture, right) that can resist attack by nematode worms.

Halting armyworm rampage with biological pesticide

The African armyworm (see picture, left) is a major migratory insect pest, which feeds voraciously on cereal crops. Using a radical new solution, researchers from the UK, Canada and Tanzania will investigate the use of a naturally occurring virus in armyworms with a view to using it as a biological pesticide.

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