Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- National University of Río Cuarto (Collaboration)
- National University of Rosario (UNR) (Project Partner)
- National University of La Plata (Project Partner)
- National University of Rio Cuarto (Project Partner)
- CABIO (Project Partner)
- Ministry of Agri, Livestock & Fish (Project Partner)
- National University of Quilmes (Project Partner)
- INTA-CONICET (Project Partner)
- SAMIGE (Civil Assoc General Microbiol) (Project Partner)
Publications
Abdian P
(2024)
Creating pathways for collaboration between Argentina and the UK to utilise microbial biofilms in sustainable agriculture
in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
NBIC
(2023)
Biofilms in Agriculture Report
| Description | In the agricultural sector, biofilms are utilised as biofertilizers, biostimulants to promote plant growth, soil bioremediators to remove contaminants, and biocontrol agents against plant infections. Despite their potential benefits, there is still much to learn about the complex interactions between biofilms and plants, and how to harness these interactions for enhanced plant growth and disease prevention. A deeper understanding of biofilms in this context is essential for effectively managing and directing microbial communities towards creating a sustainable environment. This grant funded the 'Biofilms in Agriculture' workshop which brought together researchers and industry representatives from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) and Argentina, to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries by reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The following priority areas for collaborative research between the two countries were identified: (i) Use of biofilms isolated form plant roots as a biosensor of soil health; (ii) Compare the plant root biofilms form different climates in Argentina and the UK to design seed inoculants which can minimise the impact of climate change in agriculture and (iii) Design intelligent seeds with chips which modify the microbial composition of biofilms associated with roots and monitor their impact on the root surrounding environment to maximise crop production. These priority areas will be used to focus future research collaborations between the UK and Argentina in the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture. |
| Exploitation Route | For all the three identified priority areas, the early engagement of end users (farmers) will be paramount to maximise technology adoption. Business models of long-term cooperation will have to be established to maximise impact. The commitment from the governments and support from funding bodies in both countries will be essential for the establishment of robust research programmes and long-term successful collaborations between researchers, industry and end-users across both countries. NBIC's goal is to support the biofilm community in dialogue and in bringing together complementary expertise to support progress in the areas where biofilms have an important role. NBIC will support initiatives to establish a joint international programme in the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture, with the aim of addressing knowledge gaps, improving agricultural productivity through the uptake of new technologies in both countries, and tackling the global issue of climate change by promoting soil health, reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. As an immediate output from the workshop, NBIC is leading on the publication of a white paper describing the identified priority areas and the benefits that the international collaboration will bring to accelerate progress in the field. In parallel, NBIC is raising awareness of the UK-Argentina initiative amongst decision makers, funders and learned societies, and within existing agritech networks through engaging with the UK Agri-Tech Innovation Centres. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
| URL | https://biofilms.ac.uk/biofilms-in-agriculture-report/ |
| Description | The findings from this workshop have been used to publish a white paper to influence investment by the UK and Argentina funders on the exploitation of the priority areas identified. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | FTMA award Anahi Coniglio |
| Organisation | National University of Río Cuarto |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were awarded an FTMA grant to host a researcher from the University of Rio Cuarto (Argentina) to carry out some work arising from the workshop discussions in Argentina which is likely to lead to a longer term collaboration. This was a collaboration between Gabriel Castrillo and Miguel Cámara (at the University of Nottingham) and Fabricio Cassan and Anahi Coniglio at the University of Rio Cuarto. The topic of this collaboration was from one of the emerging priority areas from the workshop funded by this award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input, training of the researcher from Rio Cuarto University (Anahi Coniglio) and provision of access to facilities at Nottingham University. |
| Impact | A significant ammount of data was generated which is currently awarding submission for publication. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | FTMA award Anahi Coniglio |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were awarded an FTMA grant to host a researcher from the University of Rio Cuarto (Argentina) to carry out some work arising from the workshop discussions in Argentina which is likely to lead to a longer term collaboration. This was a collaboration between Gabriel Castrillo and Miguel Cámara (at the University of Nottingham) and Fabricio Cassan and Anahi Coniglio at the University of Rio Cuarto. The topic of this collaboration was from one of the emerging priority areas from the workshop funded by this award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input, training of the researcher from Rio Cuarto University (Anahi Coniglio) and provision of access to facilities at Nottingham University. |
| Impact | A significant ammount of data was generated which is currently awarding submission for publication. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | BBSRC Workshop Award - Argentina visit and partnership building. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), in collaboration with a group of Argentine researchers, organised a Workshop on Biofilms in Agriculture, which took place in Los Cocos, Córdoba, Argentina on the 24th October 2022. Microbial biofilms play a crucial role in the global economy with an estimated value of $5 trillion. In the agricultural sector, biofilms are utilized as biofertilizers, biostimulants, soil bioremediators, and biocontrol agents. Despite their potential benefits, there is still much to learn about the complex interactions between biofilms and plants, and how to harness these interactions for enhanced plant growth and disease prevention. A deeper understanding of biofilms in this context is essential for effectively managing and directing microbial communities towards creating a sustainable environment. The 'Biofilms in Agriculture' workshop brought together researchers and industry representatives from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) and Argentina, to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives of the meeting were to: • Bring together complementary academic / industrial expertise from these countries on exploitation of biofilms in agriculture. • Identify key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact. • Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps. • Create future research collaborations on the use of biofilms in crop production between the UK and Argentina. The meeting was organised within the framework of the SAMIGE (Argentinean Society for General Microbiology) annual congress and was funded by a UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Global Partnering Award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://www.quimicaviva.qb.fcen.uba.ar/v21n3/samige2022.pdf |
| Description | Biofilms in agriculture workshop |
| 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 National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), in collaboration with a group of Argentine researchers, organised a Workshop on Biofilms in Agriculture, which took place in Los Cocos, Córdoba, Argentina on the 24th October 2022. In agriculture, biofilms have been exploited as biofertilizers, biostimulants, soil bioremediators and biocontrol agents. However, there are still many knowledge gaps with regards to the mechanisms of interaction between natural polymicrobial biofilms and plants, and how to exploit these interactions to promote plant growth and prevent crop diseases. Improved understanding of biofilms, in this context, is key to discovering, controlling and directing the behaviour of microbial communities to create a sustainable environment. The 'Biofilms in Agriculture' workshop brought together researchers and industry representatives from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) and Argentina, to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Key note Presentation at 17 SAMIGE Meeting in Argentina |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited key note presentation at a the SAMIGE 17 conference. During the talk an overview of NBIC and some of the research activities taking place in in the Centre were highlighted with a particular emphasis on those taking place at Nottingham University. There was a discussion around the data presented from academics, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://samige.org.ar |
| Description | Meeting with Simon Chater, FCDO LATAM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Miguel Camara and Paulina Rakowska met with Simon Chater (Head of Science and Innovation, FCDO LATAM (UK Embassy in Buenos Aires)) and gave an overview on the outcomes from the "Biofilms in Agriculture" and the 3 key priority areas identified by the workshop participants, addressing key unmet needs in agriculture and drawing on synergism between the two countries. A draft of the white paper (based on the outcome from the workshop discussions) was requested by Simon to aid his further discussions with UK and Argentina funders on the 'Biofilm in Agriculture' initiative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | NBIC and Argentina Partnering Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We organised a workshop in Argentina (funded by BBSRC to NBIC) to identify priority areas of collaboration between the two countries on the impact of biofilms in agriculture which can have a significant impact on economic growth. We brought together researchers and representatives from industry and government bodies from both countries. This meeting was also facilitated by the Argentinian Society for Microbiology (SAMIGE). During this meeting we identified 3 key priority areas addressing key unmet needs in Agriculture and showing a real synergism between the two countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://biofilms.ac.uk/biofilms-in-agriculture-report/ |
| Description | NBIC and Argentina Partnering Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | we organised a workshop in Argentina (funded by BBSRC to NBIC) to identify priority areas of collaboration between the two countries on the impact of biofilms in agriculture which can have a significant impact on economic growth. We brought together researchers and representatives from industry and government bodies from both countries. This meeting was also facilitated by the Argentinian Society for Microbiology (SAMIGE). During this meeting we identified 3 key priority areas addressing key unmet needs in Agriculture and showing a real synergism between the two countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Participation in Knowledge Diplomacy Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with members of the Foreign Office, Royal Society, UKRI and DSTL to discuss current NBIC work on the international strategy. A key emphasis was put on the current dialogues to identify synergisms between the exploitation of biofilms in Agriculture between the UK and Argentina. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation of the outcomes from 'Biofilms in Agriculture' workshop as part of NBIC international strategy |
| 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 | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Miguel Camara met with Professor Sir Robin Grimes (Foreign Secretary, Royal Society), Ian Wiggins (Director of International, Royal Society), Susie Kitchens (Deputy Director Global Research & Innovation, BEIS), Frances Wood (Director of International, UKRI) and Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE (Chief Executive, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) to present on NBIC internaitonal strategy. The workshop in Argentina was discussed and the outcomes from the workshop presented, including identified priority areas in the use of biofilms in agriculture, where the international collaboration between the UK and Argentina could be beneficial. The meeting was followed by further email exchanges and sharing the draft of a white paper, summarising findings and decisions from the workshop, ahead of the visit of a delegation from CONICET ( National Scientific and Technical Research Council is an Argentine) to the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |