Revolutionising wheat

Wheat is crucial for feeding a growing population. For over two decades, BBSRC has been at the forefront of wheat research, investing over £300 million since the turn of the century. In October 2023, BBSRC published a ground-breaking report showcasing the significant impact of these investments. The research has propelled UK wheat research to new heights and driven economic growth.

BBSRC investments in wheat research are projected to create £900 million Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy over a 25-year period. Globally, these investments are even more significant, contributing an estimated additional £1.99 billion to the global GVA.

Read the independent evaluation report on the socio-economic impacts arising from BBSRC’s investments in wheat research. Read the independent evaluation report. 

BBSRC’s strategic leadership and sustained long-term investment, through key flagship programmes, has been transformative. A celebration of these achievements is set out in the accompanying Revolutionising Wheat Showcase, which highlights analysis, flagship programmes, leading international wheat partnerships and case studies spanning agriculture, health and technology. 

Preventing the consequences of livestock liver fluke infection

Collaborative research between the University of Liverpool (UoL) and industrial partner GADx (previously Mologic Ltd), led by Professor Diana Williams, has developed a pen-side test to diagnose liver fluke in livestock. GADx’s expertise is in rapid diagnostic technology for the agricultural sector; they also assisted UoL with commercialisation. The test is now available through Norbrook.

Liver fluke is a parasitic infection that affects several species, including sheep, cattle, and humans. In ruminants, it causes anaemia, lethargy, and weight loss. Diagnosis is difficult, with many infections presenting as asymptomatic until sudden death. This leads many farmers to use flukicides without testing as prevention, raising the risk of resistance. It is estimated that liver fluke costs the UK beef industry £8 to £9.5 million a year in productivity losses.

The test is a rapid lateral flow test based on UoL’s existing diagnostic technology. It uses a drop of blood taken from the ear of potentially infected animals, giving results in only 10 minutes. Traditional testing requires lab analysis, which includes a wait time of over a week.

This test enables faster detection and treatment of infected animals, which:

• enables farmers to specifically target treatment when animals become infected
• prevents overtreatment, therefore slowing flukicide resistance development
• improves animal health and welfare
• reduces costly production losses

Funding from the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board and BBSRC via the Endemic Livestock Disease Systems programme, Follow-on Fund (FOF), FOF Pathfinder, and Impact Acceleration Account supported the research.

Plant-derived omega-3 oil on the horizon

In June 2024, Rothamsted Research granted US-based company Yield10 Biosciences Inc. an exclusive global commercial licence for the technology behind their Camelina-derived omega-3 oil.

Professor Johnathan Napier has been developing this technology for over 20 years. He and his team have worked to genetically engineer Camelina, a type of oilseed crop used to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. Algal genes that are naturally responsible for synthesising omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) were inserted into Camelina, allowing it to produce a novel seed oil that now contained these fatty acids. Traditionally, EPA and DHA are sourced from ocean-caught fish. Rising demand has accelerated the need for a sustainable alternative source that doesn’t harm our fish stocks.

The engineered Camelina has already undergone GM field trials in the UK, USA and Canada, which showed the plant was able to stably produce these omega-3 oils. The oil has also been tested in animal feeding studies to ensure it is effective and used in human dietary studies.

Yield10 has been collaborating on the project, helping to develop from field trials to multi-acre scale production. With the licence, Yield10 will be able to fully commercialise the omega-3 oil. The recent approval by the regulator USDA now means the omega-3 Camelina can be grown without restriction in the USA. Yield10 has now granted Nuseed a commercial licence to further advance the Rothamsted omega-3 technology.

This research has been funded by BBSRC via institute project funding, Follow-on Fund (FOF), Super FOF, FOF Pathfinder, and Industrial Partnership Awards.