UK berry growers are threatened by increasing pest infestations which drive down yields and increase costs; aphids can reduce berry crop yields by more than 30%. Growers are urgently searching for new ways to deal with pests at a predictable cost and with better environmentally sound results.
It is the first time in the 100 year history of the OIV that anyone from the UK has held a presiding role within one of its expert groups. This reflects well on the strength and expansion of the UK industry and the high regard in which Dr Kemp is held within the international grape and wine research community. She will hold the position for a three-year period alongside her Niab leadership role.
The five projects, which got under way this autumn, have been funded under the Bayer - Niab Challenge Grant Program, an open innovation challenge created to support innovative science in areas of interest to both organisations.
Bayer will provide financial and mentorship resources, with a total award of £100,000 over one year and access to its leading crop science researchers, who will provide guidance as the research progresses.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded £5.6 million (DKK 50 million) to the Wheat Alliance project, led by Professor Simona Radutoiu at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University, to harness the potential of plant-microbe interactions for exploring wheat genetics for improved nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and promote sustainable agriculture.
Previous Niab work on the full yield potential of strawberry varieties Malling Champion and Malling Ace highlighted the variation in yield potential between individual plants. Work is now focused on optimising the propagation environment to produce plants of equal quality that have the same maximum yield potential. Niab is also working to optimise raspberry propagation to maximise plant uniformity.
The BCPC Knowledge Bank, available at www.bcpc.org, offers free open access to information, reports and papers from BCPC conferences and symposia reports dating back to 1954, and now includes over 120 technical and annual reports from the WRO – available online for the first time since their original publication.
Returning to the Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate on 26-27 November 2024, a key theme will be discussing the balance between ensuring farmers continue producing enough nutritious food for a growing population, while protecting our environment.
KWS Granturismo, KWS Bravo, KWS Kampinos, KWS Temprano, Papageno and Rejko from KWS, alongside Promise, AYA and Duke from Limagrain, Justice from Grainseed Ltd, and Starlord and MAS 075B from Bright Seeds are new entrants on the 2025 Favourable First Choice List.
LID0720C from Grainseed, along with RGT Muxxeal and RGT Buxxton from RAGT and KWS Leto from KWS, have been added to the Favourable Second Choice List. KWS Temprano, KWS Leto, KWS Bravo, Rejko, Duke, Aya, MAS 075B and Starlord have also made it onto the First Choice List for Less Favourable sites.
Mark joins NIAB in early July and will lead the crop science organisation’s team of 20 agronomists and consultants who deliver technical and consultancy services across the country. He will oversee the translation of NIAB’s wide-ranging research programme, including member-funded agronomy trials, into on-farm advice to support productive, resilient, regenerative farming for members, customers and stakeholders.
