BBSRC Science for Food and Farming

1. BBSRC Science for Food and Farming Dan Godfrey – Business and Innovation Unit

2. Talk Summary • Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC and the Global Food Security Programme • BBSRC’s approach to supporting knowledge exchange and research translation • Some examples of BBSRC science in practice

3. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council • BBSRC allocates around £470M p.a. (2009/10) to: • Fund innovative bioscience research • Train bioscientists • Support knowledge transfer and encourage economic and social impact • Engage with the public • Stakeholders include the scientific community, industry, government, the public and international partners

4. ….never before have researchers been able to address such a breadth and depth of biological questions…. Strategic Plan 2010-2015 The Age of Bioscience Driven by new tools and technologies

5. Title

6. Three major research priorities Strategic Plan 2010-2015 Bioenergy and Industrial Biotechnology Food Security Basic bioscience underpinning health

7. “Mixed economy” of BBSRC funding • Universities • basic research • curiosity-driven • shorter-term funding • research training • Institutes • strategic research • mission-oriented • longer-term funding • specialist facilities

8. Impacts from BBSRC Research

9. Global Food Security Programme

10. Food Security • How do we feed 9 billion sustainably by 2050? • The perfect storm of energy, food and water shortages 2030 • Research is essential to meet the huge challenge • Increase production • Reduce waste • Reduce GHGs • Enhance food safety • Improve nutrition • Effective translation Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015

11. Global Food Security Programme • Multi-agency programme • Bringing together the research interests of the Research Councils, Executive Agencies and Government Departments • Development of the programme has been led by BBSRC • To address food security it is vital to have coordinated cross-disciplinary and inter-related approaches • Global Food Security will build on each of the partners current research programmes and will complement other multi-partner and multi-disciplinary programmes.

12. Research Themes • Four main themes will form the basis of the programme: • Economic resilience • Resource efficiency • Sustainable production and supply • Healthy, safe diets • BBSRC science will contribute to all of these themes but will lead on the area of Sustainable production together with Defra, DFID and the Scottish Government

13. Global Food Security Website www.foodsecurity.ac.uk

14. Food Security • International partnerships in Food Security: • BBSRC co-funded a specialist funding activity on photosynthesis with the National Science Foundation in the USA • BBSRC is co-funding a new initiative with the Indian Gov’t and the Gates Foundation “Sustainable Crop Production for International Development” SCPRID. £20M available for research to improve the production of major food crops. • RCUK and the Brazilian Gov’t have an agreement in place to support collaborative research projects.

15. Food Security • Other BBSRC Food Security Activities: • BBSRC Advanced Training Partnerships Scheme • Innovative public-private partnership approach to meeting the high-level skills needs of the agri-food sector • Research and Technology Clubs: • DRINC – Diet and Health • CIRC – Crop Improvement • Animal Health Club • Other Initiatives: • Horticulture Initiative • Campylobacter initiative

16. Collaborative Research People & Information Exchange Commercialisation & Development Collaborative Training BBSRC Knowledge Exchange

17. From the research base to the user • Fundamental research • Addressing basic bioscience questions • Pre-competitive research • Research Technology Clubs • User engagement in developing strategic direction for research programmes • Collaborative research projects, IPA and LINK • Increasing opportunities for users to have influence over the research • Pre-commercial research – in collaboration with TSB • Innovation platforms • User-led research • Skills and knowledge exchange • Developing researchers • Opportunities for people ‘movement’

18. BBSRC Knowledge Exchange • BBSRC seeks to deliver impact from the research that it funds wherever possible. • Research Translation is part of broader knowledge exchange • Not a linear process • Relies on good communication between researchers, funders and users • Researchers required to think about the impact of their research • BBSRC has increased its commitment to knowledge exchange

19. Collaborative Research People & Information Exchange Commercialisation & Development Collaborative Training

20. Case Studies

21. Sequencing the Strawberry Genome • Published by an international consortium in December 2010 • UK Partner – East Malling: Part of BBSRC Crop Science Initiative • Identify genes relating to disease resistance • Also likely to impact on other related species such as apples, peaches, pears and raspberries Shulaev et al (2011) Nature Genetics, 43, 109-116

22. Blue tongue • Devastating viral disease of sheep and cattle • The Blue Tongue virus first appeared in the UK in 2007 • Transmitted by biting midges that have spread into Northern Europe in recent years – warmer climate has permitted this spread • Work at the Institute for Animal Health helped to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the UK in 2008/09 that could have cost the UK £400M and 10,000 jobs. • Disaster avoided thanks to a combination of careful monitoring and widespread vaccination.

23. Beneforté Broccoli • New variety of broccoli recently launched on to the market – contains 2-3 times the levels of the phyto-nutrient Glucoraphanin. • Glucoraphanin is converted into sulforaphane in the body which boosts levels of anti-oxidant enzymes. • Evidence indicates that a diet rich in glucoraphanin can have beneficial effects such as reducing chronic inflammation, stopping uncontrolled cell division associated with early stages of cancer • BBSRC funded science at the JIC and IFR has enabled the development of this new crop. “This is a fantastic achievement and testament to the quality of research we have in this country and its ability to drive growth. This excellent work has led to the development of a highly commercial food product that will be both grown and sold in the UK, giving a real boost to agriculture, our personal health and the economy.” David Willets

24. Soil for Life - KTP • A collaborative KTP project between Produce World and Cranfield University funded by BBSRC • Aim to develop a soil information and risk management system by mapping soil and crop performance data. • This project brings together a wealth of existing information on soils and crop performance and will enable the management and mitigation of risk (to crop and soils), improvement of crop performance and future proofing of the supply of raw materials.

25. Parsnip breeding - KTP • BBSRC funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership supported an associate working with Elsoms Seeds and supported by Warwick Crop Centre. • The KTP project enabled the development of a marker assisted breeding programme in parsnip using existing knowledge in the carrot. • Facilitated the integration of marker technology within the traditional breeding business. • Strengthened business/academic relationship: • “This project provided us with an excellent opportunity to improve the understanding of breeder’s needs and how we can transfer academic knowledge to further their goals.” • Graham Teakle – Warwick Crop Centre

26. Thank you, Any Questions? Dan Godfrey dan.godfrey@bbsrc.ac.uk 01793 414688

27. Food Security

28. BBSRC Spending 09/10: Total Budget £450M

29. BBSRC Strategy Development Strategy Advisory Board and Strategy Panels Strategy Refreshment Research Funding Committees Delivery Membership and Agenda for Strategy Advisory Board and Strategy Panels will be on the BBSRC website