Since joining NIAB from the commercial sector in 2007, Phil has worked on key breeding and pre-breeding projects including NIAB's flagship wheat resynthesis programme, the multi-partner WISP, DFW and DSW wheat pre-breeding initiatives, and the development of wheat MAGIC populations.
Phil is now leading and managing NIAB’s portfolio of pre-breeding work across a range of broad-acre arable crops, including cereals, legumes and others. This is often collaborative work with industry partners from breeding companies, end-users and other parts of the supply chain.
Phil’s input forms a significant part of NIAB’s work to raise the profile of domestic plant protein production through legume crops and other protein sources.
Research projects
Title: Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein
Duration: 2024-2026
Partners: Multiple partners, led by Imperial College London
Funding: Bezos Earth Foundation
Title: Delivering Sustainable Wheat
Duration: April 2023 - March 2028
Partners: Multiple partners, led by John Innes Centre
Funding: UKRI-BBSRC
Title: Cicero - Developing chickpea as a novel source of domestic UK protein
Duration: April 2023 - March 2025
Partners: NIAB, Premium Crops, Place UK, Viridian Seeds
Funding: Defra Farming Futures R&D Fund: Sustainable farm-based protein, feasibility studies
Title: International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) European Winter Wheat Hub
Duration: 2019-2024
Partners: NIAB, IWYP, BASF, KWS, RAGT, Syngenta
Funding: BASF, KWS, RAGT, Syngenta
Recent publications
A new winter wheat genetic resource harbors untapped diversity from synthetic hexaploid wheat (2024). Theor Appl Genet
Phenomic and genomic prediction of yield on multiple locations in winter wheat (2023). Front Genet
A wheat chromosome segment substitution line series supports characterisation and use of progenitor genetic variation (2023). Plant Genome
Multi-trait ensemble genomic prediction and simulations of recurrent selection highlight importance of complex trait genetic architecture for long-term genetic gains in wheat (2023). in silico Plants
Review of opportunities for diversifying UK agriculture through investment in underutilised crops - CH0224 (2022). Defra
Full publication list on Google Scholar, ResearchGate and Orcid
Meet the scientist
Find out about life as a plant breeder at NIAB as Dr Phil Howell discusses all about his role. From the big challenges ahead, his best research findings and top tips for anyone thinking of a career in crop science, Phil explains all. Plus what excites Phil most about his job and the best thing about working for NIAB.