Magnesium Network (MAG-NET): Integrating Soil-Crop-Animal Pathways to Improve Ruminant Health
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Abstract
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Technical Summary
We aim to develop novel, resilient nutrient management strategies for the UK ruminant sector. The primary focus is magnesium (Mg) due to its strategic importance to the ruminant sector. However, new data, knowledge and communication tools arising from this project will apply to other nutrients/elements, to support more resilient production systems and to improve our wider understanding of landscape-scale processes. The primary objectives (deliverables) are:
1. Predictive maps of hypomagnesaemia-sensitive regions for England, N. Ireland and Wales. These will be developed from high-resolution public data on soil nutrient concentrations, geochemistry and land-use, and soil/crop data in large private-sector databases. Data will be integrated, and risks communicated, using geospatial modelling, and tested by on-farm audits.
2. Farm and veterinary audit of magnesium use, knowledge and opinion. Questionnaire surveys and detailed on-farm audits (soil, forage, fodder, animal biomarkers) will be used in areas of predicted high and low available Mg for dairy, beef and sheep sectors.
3. Novel genetic markers and crop management strategies to increase leaf Mg concentration in forage grasses. Genetic markers will be obtained from an Italian ryegrass cultivar (Magnet/Bb2067) with high leaf Mg concentration. A panel of modern hybrid and perennial ryegrass cultivars will be screened for the presence of these markers and new pre-breeding material will be developed. The response of Magnet/Bb2067 to Mg fertilisation will be tested in the field.
4. A multi-scale decision support tool for farm nutrient management. A web/smart-phone application will be developed. Inputs will include geospatial data (soil characteristics, climate, etc.), cultivar-choice, fertiliser-management, supplement use, and economic costs. Outputs will enable the economic benefits of nutrition management options to be compared and communicated, at farm-to-regional scales.
1. Predictive maps of hypomagnesaemia-sensitive regions for England, N. Ireland and Wales. These will be developed from high-resolution public data on soil nutrient concentrations, geochemistry and land-use, and soil/crop data in large private-sector databases. Data will be integrated, and risks communicated, using geospatial modelling, and tested by on-farm audits.
2. Farm and veterinary audit of magnesium use, knowledge and opinion. Questionnaire surveys and detailed on-farm audits (soil, forage, fodder, animal biomarkers) will be used in areas of predicted high and low available Mg for dairy, beef and sheep sectors.
3. Novel genetic markers and crop management strategies to increase leaf Mg concentration in forage grasses. Genetic markers will be obtained from an Italian ryegrass cultivar (Magnet/Bb2067) with high leaf Mg concentration. A panel of modern hybrid and perennial ryegrass cultivars will be screened for the presence of these markers and new pre-breeding material will be developed. The response of Magnet/Bb2067 to Mg fertilisation will be tested in the field.
4. A multi-scale decision support tool for farm nutrient management. A web/smart-phone application will be developed. Inputs will include geospatial data (soil characteristics, climate, etc.), cultivar-choice, fertiliser-management, supplement use, and economic costs. Outputs will enable the economic benefits of nutrition management options to be compared and communicated, at farm-to-regional scales.
Planned Impact
Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element for livestock and Mg deficiency (hypomagnesaemia) causes economic losses to farm businesses. Improving our understanding of dietary flows of Mg and other elements through the soil-crop-animal pathway, at farm to regional scales, can potentially reduce these economic losses. It is widely recognised that 'nutritionally-informed' management strategies have great potential for UK dairy (worth £3.9b/yr) and sheep (worth £1b/yr) sectors. Thus, even marginal on-farm nutrient efficiency gains could deliver substantial economic and social impact. However, such strategies remain a significant and multidisciplinary challenge, requiring strategic R&D. Here, we aim to improve nutrient management efficiency within the UK agriculture sector using Mg as an exemplar element.
An integrated 'Pathways to Impact' plan is embedded within all Work Packages (WPs). The primary activity is direct and ongoing engagement with industry, including project partners (agronomy, fertiliser, veterinary sectors), farming representative bodies, and SARIC stakeholders. Subsidiary activities include academic interactions among soil, crop and livestock scientists, agricultural economists, and staff/student training.
Measurable immediate impact will be realised for partners and SARIC stakeholders by delivering: (1) integrated private- and public-sector soil and crop element-composition data for mapping/modelling (WP1); (2) on-farm audits developed with XLVets, representing 30% of UK farm animal practices, thereby enabling adequate survey participation and engagement by farmers (WP2); (3) marker-testing in germplasm owned by Germinal Seeds (WP3).
For impact to the wider sector, including policy makers, the effective communication of results is essential and a full WP (WP4) is devoted to communication activities. Thus, in WP4, a multi-scale decision support tool for nutrient management will be delivered via a user-friendly interface (web/smart-phone application). Inputs will include geospatial data (soil characteristics, climate, etc.), cultivar-choice, fertiliser-management, supplement use, and economic costs. Outputs will enable the economic benefits of the nutritional options to be compared and communicated, at farm-to-regional scales. Delivering comprehensible, yet meaningful, results to the farming sector will draw on current best practice in risk communication. For example, Murray Lark and colleagues at British Geological Survey (BGS) recently developed a framework for managing and communicating risks of cobalt (Co) deficiency in Irish soils, applying verbal and numerical scales of uncertainty of likely outcomes to support farm-to-regional scale advice. Such an approach will be developed further in this project
New web-mapping services developed in this project will also be uploaded onto existing NERC/BBSRC/partner mapping platforms, such as the free app mySoil and the web-portal UK Soil Observatory, to improve data-legacy. In addition to map-based communication, impact will be pursued via activities including: (1) industry events (e.g. Grassland & Muck, May 2017); (2) corporate newsletters/publications; (3) industry training (e.g. XLVets hold regular training for improving farm-animal health management).
Impact is also expected from academic and training activities. Academic impact (e.g. via publications, talks etc.) will be enhanced by interactions with industry-scientists, which leverages specialist expertise, unique data (e.g. soil analyses), and physical resources (e.g. livestock bloods and urines, germplasm, soil samples) within this project. Impact via staff training will exploit tri-directional training opportunities between academic, research institute, and industry sectors. Impact via student training will encompass undergraduate, postgraduate and placement students.
An integrated 'Pathways to Impact' plan is embedded within all Work Packages (WPs). The primary activity is direct and ongoing engagement with industry, including project partners (agronomy, fertiliser, veterinary sectors), farming representative bodies, and SARIC stakeholders. Subsidiary activities include academic interactions among soil, crop and livestock scientists, agricultural economists, and staff/student training.
Measurable immediate impact will be realised for partners and SARIC stakeholders by delivering: (1) integrated private- and public-sector soil and crop element-composition data for mapping/modelling (WP1); (2) on-farm audits developed with XLVets, representing 30% of UK farm animal practices, thereby enabling adequate survey participation and engagement by farmers (WP2); (3) marker-testing in germplasm owned by Germinal Seeds (WP3).
For impact to the wider sector, including policy makers, the effective communication of results is essential and a full WP (WP4) is devoted to communication activities. Thus, in WP4, a multi-scale decision support tool for nutrient management will be delivered via a user-friendly interface (web/smart-phone application). Inputs will include geospatial data (soil characteristics, climate, etc.), cultivar-choice, fertiliser-management, supplement use, and economic costs. Outputs will enable the economic benefits of the nutritional options to be compared and communicated, at farm-to-regional scales. Delivering comprehensible, yet meaningful, results to the farming sector will draw on current best practice in risk communication. For example, Murray Lark and colleagues at British Geological Survey (BGS) recently developed a framework for managing and communicating risks of cobalt (Co) deficiency in Irish soils, applying verbal and numerical scales of uncertainty of likely outcomes to support farm-to-regional scale advice. Such an approach will be developed further in this project
New web-mapping services developed in this project will also be uploaded onto existing NERC/BBSRC/partner mapping platforms, such as the free app mySoil and the web-portal UK Soil Observatory, to improve data-legacy. In addition to map-based communication, impact will be pursued via activities including: (1) industry events (e.g. Grassland & Muck, May 2017); (2) corporate newsletters/publications; (3) industry training (e.g. XLVets hold regular training for improving farm-animal health management).
Impact is also expected from academic and training activities. Academic impact (e.g. via publications, talks etc.) will be enhanced by interactions with industry-scientists, which leverages specialist expertise, unique data (e.g. soil analyses), and physical resources (e.g. livestock bloods and urines, germplasm, soil samples) within this project. Impact via staff training will exploit tri-directional training opportunities between academic, research institute, and industry sectors. Impact via student training will encompass undergraduate, postgraduate and placement students.
Publications
Kumssa DB
(2019)
A reconnaissance survey of farmers' awareness of hypomagnesaemic tetany in UK cattle and sheep farms.
in PloS one
Lark RM
(2018)
Combining two national-scale datasets to map soil properties, the case of available magnesium in England and Wales
in European Journal of Soil Science
| Description | The predictive soil mapping using public sector data to create a high resolution baseline map, and demonstrating a novel method of creating open-access information from protected (difficult to access) public sector legacy data was completed in 2018 (Lark, Ander, Broadley 2018 Combining two national-scale data sets to map soil properties, the case of available magnesium in England and Wales. European Journal of Soil Science doi: 10.1111/ejss.12743) mapping data from which will be made available through UK Soil Observatory (UKSO, www.ukso.org). Work is continuing to use the statistical information to communciate private sector datasets and examine their utility in making regional/national predictions. 2. Farm and veterinary audit of magnesium use, knowledge and opinion. We have now published a new reconnaissance survey of farmers' awareness of hypomagnesaemic tetany in UK cattle and sheep farms (n=285). These data show that risks of hypomagnesaemic tetany are greater than reported previously, with clear potential market for further provision of mineral tests on animals, forages, and soils in the UK, together with adoption of potential intervention strategies (Kumssa, Penrose, et al., 2019). On-farm audits, which took longer than planned due to ill health of a key project partner, are now complete. Formal write-up of these data is ongoing. Farm mineral quarterly audits were completed by a subcontractor, Peter Bone, Livestock Mineral Consulting Ltd (formerly Ruminant Mineral Consulting Ltd), who is experienced in working with farmers and vets, with technical support from Rory Hayden (UoN). 3. Novel genetic markers and crop management strategies to increase leaf Mg concentration in forage grasses. We have now published our work to show the clear value of both varietal selection and Mg fertilisation in altering forage Mg concentration and forage tetany index under field conditions (Kumssa et al., in press). We believe this multi-year and multi-site field experiment, supported by glasshouse studies, is the first report of its kind. Marker identification is ongoing; sequence data analyses will be completed by March 2020. New tetraploid C2 lines developed from project outputs will be phenotyped for Mg composition and Tetany Index traits in Spring 2020. 4. A multi-scale decision support tool for farm nutrient management. Work on this WP has been undertaken capturing distance-to-market evaluations of Mg-containing agricultural lime resources (Tom Bide) using legacy data, including BGS geological information, pilot outputs from which was presented at a mineral commodity industry event this year and a paper will be produced in 2019. Synthesis of the English Farm Business Survey (Defra-funded survey) data has taken place to capture the key information from this large repository; we are currently negotiating access to the equivalent data from Wales. The project team has taken the advice of the SARIC programme board feedback (August 2017), intends to work with key partners to run a focused workshop in 2020 (after completion of earlier WP activities) to create impactful dissemination routes and will use industry links through organisations such as AHDB and AIC to facilitate this. We are conducting an experiment to validate soil-grass transfer models, to support the testing of models in WP1 and integrate with WP2-3 outputs. This will also provide a case-study the benefits to the private sector of collecting paired soil-forage samples to inform livestock mineral nutrition planning in the context of soil fertility. The decision support tool will focus on raising awareness of strategies that farmers and farm advisors can implement to avoid insufficiency of dietary Mg supply: we are developing and will deliver this as a learning based approach |
| Exploitation Route | The predictive soil data created in WP1 (from protected background datasets) has been released on UK Soil Observatory (UKSO) as a fully downloadable dataset with an accompanying metadata file. This (novel) approach will be followed for personal/commercially confidential private sector data, i.e. release of derivative/modelled values and modelling methods but not the protected 'raw' data in WP1 and WP4. New survey and experimental data from WP2 and WP3 have now been published as supplementary information, in accordance with SARIC guidelines. Further data release will follow SARIC guidelines. Stakeholders: Project partners and those brought direct into the project include those from grass breeding, fertiliser, livestock nutrition and agronomy sectors. Also continued project engagement with AHDB (dairy; beef and lamb), including attendance at project meetings. Private and public data holders. End-users: Plant breeders, on-farm advisors (livestock health & agronomy) and their training networks (e.g. FACTS); grass and forage breeders; farmers; research community |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| URL | https://www.ukso.org |
| Description | Materials to Land: Supporting better regulation and sustainable soil use decisions |
| Amount | £122,939 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/P017010/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 05/2019 |
| Description | BioFoodSystem DTP on forage micronutients |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This DTP project is intended to perpetuate some of the breeding work commenced in the MagNet project, namely the interspecies crosses made from the high magnesium accumulating Italian Ryegrass which are now sown in plot trials. It will also expand the micronutrient profiles being considered in grass breeding. We will find out in time if the project and student are appointed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The other partner institutes were not eligble for this funding, but will hopefully be able to follow the progress as interested parties. |
| Impact | To cOME |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | 2016 Royal Welsh Grassland Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Royal Welsh Agricultural Society held the 2016 Royal Welsh Grassland Event will took place on 9th June 2016 at the Rhug Estate, Corwen LL21 0EH. The event was attended by the agricultural trade and by farmers. The Mag-net project was highlighted in discussions with farmers who showed great interest. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | AgriScot trade event (16th November 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Beth Penrose and Pete Bone attended AgriScot agricultural trade event, Edinburgh for MagNet. There they spoke with many farmers and managed to recruit more than 90 farmers to complete the WP2 at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2016 |
| Description | Agronomy Advisers course x 2, January 2020, SASA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Germinal Holdings Limited run courses for advisers annually on the process and progress for breeding and related projects. The purpose is for retailers on farm to be able to knowledgeably communicate this information to livestock farmers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Agronomy Advisers course x 2, November 2019, IBERS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Germinal Holdings Limited run courses for advisers annually on the process and progress for breeding and related projects. The purpose is for retailers on farm to be able to knowledgeably communicate this information to livestock farmers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Attendance at Grassland & Muck 2017 demonstration event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Attendance on joint institute and commercial partner stand on a prime site at Grassland & Muck 2017 the leading industry event showcasing the latest technology & business information on forage production, harvesting, storage & utilisation as well as the latest in muck management and application. The stand showcased plots demonstrating several aspects of the grass research at IBERS e.g. magnesium, lipids, water soluble carbohydrate and rooting and followed on with plots of the novel varieties resulting from the research and also plots illustrating the commercial products available from the commercial partner. The event is held over 2 days and attracts many farmers from the UK and Ireland and allows considerable farmer and seed trade interactions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.grasslandevent.co.uk/ |
| Description | Beth Penrose blog on early activities in MAG-NET project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Postdoc Beth Penrose has written a blog about her work as part of the MAG-NET project (Magnesium Network (MAG- NET): Integrating Soil-Crop-Animal Pathways to Improve Ruminant Health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.magnesium-network.uk/media-centre.html |
| Description | Beth Penrose blog on early activities in MAG-NET project B |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Beth Penrose blog on early activities in MAG-NET project B. http://britgeopeople.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/talking-magnesium-at-royal-welsh-showby.html |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://britgeopeople.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/talking-magnesium-at-royal-welsh-showby.html |
| Description | British Grassland Soc., BSAS and BSSS joint Winter Meeting (1st March 2017) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Louise Ander, Pete Bone and Diriba Kumssa represented the MagNet project at the British Grassland Society, British Society of Animal Sciences (BSAS) and British Soil Science Society (BSSS) Winter Meeting - "Minerals. Closing the Circle - trace element supply in soils, plants and animals" (Great Malvern). Louise presented a farmer recruitment (Magnet WP2) poster and a talk outlining the project rationale and activities to date and Pete Bone gave a presentation based on wider aspects of his professional expertise. This meeting was dominated by presentations and an audience drawn from fertiliser, ruminant health (including veterinary) and nutrition, seed/grassland/silage companies, as well as researcher attendees. The Agricultural Lime Association were in attendance and are keen to exchange information immediately, and to keep in touch with the project progress and outputs. Further contacts were made with those in the farming sector (and questionnaires given out), and previous contacts (from 20th Feb 2017) reinforced, including contacts for further KE as the project progresses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Canal y Cardi visit and tour of facilities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit from 30 local businesses and civil society members comprising Canal y Cardi |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Centenary of Plant Breeding at Aberystwyth Open Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This Open day was a special, invite only event for past staff of IBERS and the Welsh Plant Breeding Station. There were a number of selected presentations and a tour of newer facilities onsite, including a 20 slot of the latest progress in forage breeding. The story was then covered by the Cambrian News. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | EPSRC meeting Plymouth (20th & 21st February 2017) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Louise Ander attended the EPSRC funded Making Livelihoods in the Tamar Valley and Dartmoor More Resilient to Water-Energy-Food Challenges: Stakeholder Workshop. This "WEFWEBS Dartmoor-Tamar-Plymouth workshop" was 20th and 21st February 2017. Whilst there were more than 10 participants in this workshop, it was dominated by small group working: however, this led to a better understanding of pressures on farmers in the stated region, and wider in south-west England. From the perspective of the MagNet project, this was an opportunity to initiate links that came to fruition in a meeting 1st March 2017. From the perspective of Private Water Supplies (PWS) project, it was an opportunity to draw attention to how water shortages and poor quality from PWS can have a detrimental effect in this rural area, as others. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies AGM/Summer conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies held their 50th anniversary AGM/Summer conference at IBERS and presentations were arranged on relevant aspects of IBERS work including the breeding. The breeding projects highlighted 'Grasses of the future: their composition and use' and detailed the new traits such as fatty acid content and magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Future forage crop breeding: Can genomics help? Presentation at Farming Connect Open Day, March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at farming Connect meeting aimed at informing and discussing the latest developments in IBERS forage plant breeding activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Germinal England & Wales Seed Merchants Training Course 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The course is run by Germinal Holdings to illustrate the science behind the breeding of their grass varieties and enable seed merchants to inform their customers of the benefits of these varieties. Our role was to present information about the projects which contribute to the breeding activities. The merchants asked questions after the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Germinal England & Wales Seed Merchants Training Course 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The course is run by Germinal Holdings to illustrate the science behind the breeding of their grass varieties and enable seed merchants to inform their customers of the benefits of these varieties. Our role was to present information about the projects which contribute to the breeding activities. The merchants asked questions after the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Germinal Scottish Seed Merchants Training Course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The course is run by Germinal Holdings to illustrate the science behind the breeding of their grass varieties and enable seed merchants to inform their customers of the benefits of these varieties. Our role was to present information about the projects which contribute to the breeding activities. The merchants asked questions after the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund, Impact Accelerator Award GCRF IAA Plant Breeding Workshop at Aberystwyth University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Global Challenges Research Fund, Impact Accelerator Award a GCRF IAA Plant Breeding Workshop was held at IBERS on Nov 7-11th 2016 where the breeding research at IBERS was presented including the breeding for novel traits such as fatty acid and magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lecture and Field Visit for M Sc students at Aberystywth University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture and Field visit for taught MSc course informing the students about breeding targets and methodologies at IBERS including Mag-Net and Lipigrass. Students asked questions with regard to breeding targets and the complexities of integrating novel traits into new varieties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Mag-Net website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Project website contains summary of funders and project, and since it's release the WP2 questionnaire for Mag-Net. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | http://www.magnesium-network.uk/ |
| Description | Martin Broadley interview with Farmers Guardian 26th December 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | SARIC research in the Farmers Guardian Martin Broadley, Nottingham University recently featured in an article titled "Improve soil health for better forage" in the Farmers Guardian talking about his SARIC funded research project Mag-NET. https://www.fginsight.com/vip/vip/improve-soil-health-for-better-forage-17641 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.fginsight.com/vip/vip/improve-soil-health-for-better-forage-17641 |
| Description | Meeting of Germinal Holdings Sales team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The workshop was designed to inform the Germinal Holdings sales team about current IBERS breeding research programmes, including Mag-Net and progress so far. The participants were drawn from England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The information gained will be used to inform farmers and farmers groups across the UK and Ireland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Newton Rigg Agricultural College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A very interesting visit to Innovis and IBERS of ~25 Agricultural College Students. Visit comprised mostly of tours and discussion training in fields (including plant identification and benefits of variety choice). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | PAAG meeting, Peterborough (14th May 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Martin Broadley and Louise Ander attended a meeting of the Professional Agriculture Analysis Group (PAAG) at the Agriculture Industries Confederation (AIC) office in Peterborough. We provided a short presentation to ~15 attendees from the agronomy/fertiliser business, reflecting both SME and major companies. Discussion then developed as to possible wider data sharing with industry than was envisaged at the proposal stage of this project: at the time of writing this has advanced considerably to being close to data sharing under a new licence arrangement. Further, the network this has created with AIC has led to further interactions between AIC and BGS in particular, including in providing guidance for agricultural sector support, an important component of a further (successful) NERC grant application. AIC have since used the new link with BGS to access published data resources, which they were not previously using. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Presentation (in Welsh) to Cardigan Grassland Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Cardigan Grassland Society on current IBERS varieties and future breeding targets such as lipid content and magnesium content and the implication for farmers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation to Hybu Cig Cymru on-farm event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to invited farmer audience at Hybu Cig Cymru invited farmer audience on "Bridio Glaswellt - Beth sydd ar y gweill? Grass Breeding - What's in the pipeline?" informing on the future breeding of high lipid and high magnesium varieties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation to farmer members of the Dairy Link 1.5 group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and presentation to the farmer members of the Diary Link 1.5 group and members of Kite consulting discussing plant varieties produced at IBERS and the ongoing plant breeding research into magnesium content and lipid content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Project partner and AHDB contribution to WP2 activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | AHDB Beef & Lamb (as one of the industry partners of SARIC) have fully engaged with the project: this has included distribution of WP2 questionnaires to farmers at events they have run (Beef Southwest, 9th Nov 2016) and NSA Central Region Early Gathering (26th Jan 2017). Further, project partners XLVets have distributed to >1500 vet. practices (24th October 2016 onwards) and Pete Bone has sent to further vet practices (29th September 2016 onwards) to distribute to their clients. AHDB |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Seminar on the Mag-Net project at the Royal Welsh Agricultural show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A seminar and reception was held on the IBERS stand at the Royal Welsh Agricultural show detailing the background and aims of the Mag-Net project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Soil Security Programme meeting (15th February 2017) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Louise Ander attended the Soil Research Centre, University of Reading, Annual Workshop - part of NERC's Soil Security Programme activities. This event includes farmers, agronomy, regulator water industry and other consultant representatives in addition to research institute/university researchers. Of particular benefit to MagNet was the networking opportunities with farmers very engaged in soil science, one of whom offered a visit to discuss his farm to the MagNet project and discuss the particular challenges he faces in regard to adequate supply of Mg, and other essential elements for sheep health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Swagman Farming Tour from Australia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation, discussion and plot visit was hosted to inform the farmer's group of the benefits of IBERS grass varieties and the current research likely to deliver novel varieties in the future such as from Mag-Net, Lipigrass and other projects. The members found the information useful background for their on-farm decision making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk and Tour for the Centre of Alternative Technology, Food Policy MSc students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This is always an interesting group to talk with as they generally come with a rather opposed view of conventional agricultural practise. Their visit includes discussion of conventional breeding methods, products and utilisation as well as GM. It is generally thought provoking for both parties and this year's cohort was no different. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Talk and tour, Camarthan Chamber of Agriculture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Camarthan Chamber of Agriculture were comprised of 40 senior and influential farmers. They were interested in the process of forage grass breeding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The Grasshoppers Farmers discussion group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A visit by the Grasshoppers Farmers discussion group from Ceredigion/Pembrokeshire to highlight current IBERS varieties and future breeding targets such as increased magnesium content and increased lipid content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit by Cates Grain & Seed (New Zealand) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A visit by a New Zealand seed company to inform them of IBERS' breeding targets and breeding research including magnesium content and lipid content |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit by representatives of For Farmers International Feed company and seed merchant |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation and discussion to inform the company's representatives of the benefits of IBERS grass varieties and the current work likely to deliver novel varieties in the future such as Mag-Net. The company found the information useful for their on-farm activities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Visit by van Dinter Semo, seed merchants, Netherlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit by van Dinter Semo, seed merchants from the Netherlands to learn about future breeding targets at IBERS such as magnesium content and lipid content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of 'Cows on Tour' group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of the Cows on Tour team led by Glamorgan NFU Cymru county chairman Abi Reader. They visit schools to teach the children about how meat, crops, eggs, fruit and vegetables are produced. Discussions were held with regard to forage breeding at IBERS and also novel breeding traits such as high magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of Advance Agriculture NZ |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Advance Agriculture staff, who are Agricultural Seed suppliers in New Zealand. Their visit was to glean more information about the plant breeding at IBERS and to understand the novel traits being bred for at IBERS such as magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of British Society of Plant Breeders to IBERS plots at SASA, Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of the British Society of Plant Breeders Forage group to SASA, Edinburgh. As part of this visit they visited the IBERS plot area at SASA where the Mag-Net project and plots were highlighted and demonstrated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Visit of Cameron Ludemanns of Dairy NZ |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Cameron Ludemann from Dairy NZ the person currently responsible for the Forage variety Index (FVI) in New Zealandto inform him on important characteristics for testing in the UK and Ireland and to present the case for the breeding research currently iongoing at IBERS such as breeding for magnesium content, lipid content along with the existing emphasis on high water soluble carbohydrate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of Earl Creech |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Earl Creech a forage agronomist at Utah State University who collaborates extensively with grass breeders in the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab (FRRL) located in Logan, Utah |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of Fiona Foley Technical Manager PGG Wrightson Seeds Ltd |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Fiona Foley Technical Manager PGG Wrightson Seeds Ltd with discussion on current projects and aims of IBERS breeding programmes including breeding for improved magnesium content |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of ForFarmers feed and seed company |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Forfarmers UK sales team They are a feed and seed sales company and visited IBERS to get more background on the research going on with regard to novel plant varieties and to understand some of the novel targets for breeding at IBERS such as magnesium content and lipid content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of Francis Dunne - Director of Field Options Seed merchants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Francis Dunne, director of Field Options seed merchants for an update on breeding research at IBERS including breeding high magnesium and high lipid varieties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of Galway Grazers dairy discussion group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation, discussion and plot visit was hosted to inform the discussion group of the benefits of IBERS grass varieties and the current research likely to deliver novel varieties in the future such as from Mag-Net, Lipigrass and other projects. The members found the information useful background for their on-farm decision making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Visit of Irish journalists and researchers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of 2 journalists who write for the Irish Farmers Journal and 2 researchers from UCD, Ireland. The aim was to showcase the IBERS breeding program for its success in bringing the best varieties to the Irish market and to discuss the current output of the grass breeding program i.e. seasonal yield, quality with further discussion on future targets such as improved lipid content and improved magnesium content and the use of genomics in grass breeding and the potential of this in grass and clover breeding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of Jersey Cattle Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Farmers from the Jersey Cattle Society visited IBERS to get information regarding recent innovations in grass varieties including Mag-Net and Lipigrass |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Visit of Katherine Tozer AgResearch New Zealand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Katherine Tozer of AgResearch New Zealand. Katherine is an agricultural plant scientist at AgResearch which plays a key role in delivering new knowledge and technologies to support the agricultural sector in New Zealand and was visiting IBERs to learn of novel plant breeding applications such as breeding for magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of NFU vice president to IBERS as part of celebrating 100 years of plant breeding at the institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit of NFU vice president Stuart Roberts to IBERS in connection with the celebration of 100 years of plant breeding at the institute. He was taken on a tour of our field experiements and breeding plots. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit of Pearse McGougan Territory Sales Manager at Germinal Seeds New Zealand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | IBERS hosted a visit by Pearse McGougan the Territory Sales Manager at Germinal Seeds New Zealand to inform him of the novel breeding and research being done at IBERS and the possible future benefits in terms of varietal performance and subsequent animal performance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Visit of Pembrokeshire young farmers club |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of Pembroke Young Farmers club to get an understanding of the novel breeding work at IBERS including breeding for magnesium content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit of Semillas Fito |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of representatives of Semillas Fito a seed company from Barcelona to inform them of IBERS' breeding targets including magnesium and fatty acid content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Visit of president of NFU Wales to IBERS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit of NFU Wales to IBERS. A presentation of IBERS forage breeding and research programmes was given, and discussion of net zero carbon targets for agriculture ensued. Tour of IBERS facilities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | o Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies "Back to the Future, 100 Years of Grassland Development" Conference. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presenters gave an overview of historical breeding efforts at IBERS and context in Welsh Farming. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |