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PRESS RELEASE: NIAB TAG relaunches Variety and Seeds Day

NIAB TAG is opening its doors to arable farmers and advisors with the return of its annual Variety and Seeds Day on 28th June 2011.

With a wide range of crop demonstration plots visitors will also have access to NIAB TAG specialists providing impartial technical support on variety choice. The free event, held at NIAB’s Cambridge headquarters, returns following a break of several years and is open for the first time to non-members.

PRESS RELEASE: NIAB Innovation Farm debuts at Cereals 2011

A project showcasing new crop technology and innovation in agriculture is making its debut at Cereals 2011 with a focus on the future of UK barley varieties.

NIAB Innovation Farm is a knowledge transfer, demonstration and networking facility for the agricultural and horticultural sectors. Based in Cambridge it highlights the contribution of advanced breeding and genetics and introduces new plant traits and crops that could become a common sight on UK farms in the future.

PRESS RELEASE: Common weed has hidden superpowers

A plant that used to be killed as a weed could soon be farmed for essential fatty acids. Innovative research sponsored by Defra shows that Corn Gromwell, rich in omega-3, could potentially be grown commercially in the UK for the first time.

Corn Gromwell is native to Europe, North Africa and across Siberia and Western Asia and has also been introduced into the USA. Until recently it was best known a common weed in spring cereal crops.

PRESS RELEASE: A microscopic view of ergot infecting wheat wins science photography award

Proving that agricultural science can be visually stunning as well as informative an image of the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea) growing inside wheat stigma hairs is a winning entry at the Wellcome Image Awards, an annual science and medical photography competition.

The image shows the ergot hyphae growing through the same tissues of the wheat flower as a growing pollen tube would do during pollination. The wheat stigma hairs are only 25 micrometres, or 0.025mm, wide.

President of the European Commission visits NIAB in Cambridge

President José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, toured NIAB as part of a visit to Cambridge to see how European funding is helping to strengthen the city’s reputation for world-leading innovation, particularly in plant and environmental research and technologies. President Barroso saw how the InCrops project is helping entrepreneurs exploit the versatility of crops to make environmentally-friendly products and reduce natural waste.

New centre aims to help UK Farming address production and sustainability challenges

Two leading UK institutes have joined forces with food retailer Waitrose to establish a new centre, aimed at helping the UK farming and food sector to meet increasing challenges in food production and sustainability.

Called the Centre of Excellence for UK Farming, or CEUKF, the new centre will provide a network of expertise to help ensure that the best information and advice on developments in science, innovation and practical know-how are accessible to provide real benefits across the supply chain.

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