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International Institutional Awards Tranche 1 IBERS

Lead Research Organisation: Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS

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.
 
Description The International award has led to IBERS at Aberystwyth University being contracted to perform research by a private company to valorise a globally significant side stream of wheat milling operations.
First Year Of Impact 2024
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Lobbying Welsh politicians for better regulation
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
 
Description Meeting with Welsh Government and Welsh FSA representatives to discuss implications for Wales of the changes in GMO legislation for England. Rhodfa Padarn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth SY23 3UR. 21st Feb 2025.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description AberCollab
Amount £2,500 (GBP)
Organisation Aberystwyth University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 07/2024
 
Description BEACON Mid-Wales: Powering Powys Circular-Bioeconomy
Amount £247,577 (GBP)
Funding ID SPF00121 
Organisation Powys Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2025
 
Description Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins
Amount $30,000,000 (USD)
Funding ID RSA-03297 
Organisation Imperial College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2024 
End 10/2026
 
Description Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Food
Amount £12,634,910 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/Y008510/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2024 
End 05/2029
 
Description Improving production efficiency and animal health within sheep systems in the Peruvian Andes
Amount £13,000 (GBP)
Organisation Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2024 
End 02/2025
 
Description Joy Welch
Amount £4,800 (GBP)
Organisation Aberystwyth University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2024 
End 07/2025
 
Description Summer studentship
Amount £2,900 (GBP)
Funding ID 2024BPS013 
Organisation British Phycological Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2024 
End 07/2024
 
Title 16s Microbiome dataset 
Description The data consist of the 16s sequences for the rhizosphere microbiome of plant model Brachypodium distachyon 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The main impact was identifying how the Brachypodium distachyon rhizosphere microbiome assembly is responding to inoculation with beneficial microbes under different environmental conditions 
 
Description Aberystwyth University (UK) visit to Pondicherry University (India) 
Organisation Pondicherry University
Country India 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The visit aimed to build on the relationship developed online between the two universities over the past two to three years. In particular, the visit had the following research objectives. • Exploring research synergies between FELS (including IBERS) and departments in Pondicherry University; • Exploring research synergies between Computer Science and relevant departments at Pondicherry University; • Exploring research synergies between other AU Faculties and Departments and relevant departments at Pondicherry University; • Discussing collaboration in relation to innovation and enterprise. • The signing of an MoU in order to strengthen and deepen the relationships between the two universities.
Collaborator Contribution Pondicherry University hosted IBERS and AU staff for scientific research discussions on biology and AI.
Impact MoU was signed in a ceremony attended by approximately 70 people. Submitting a follow-on application for funding to the Taith Research and Teaching Funds in order to support future visits between both institutions; • Inviting relevant faculty from Pondicherry University to attend and present at Aberystwyth University-based research seminars, and vice versa. Doing so will help to define common areas of research and potential joint research projects; • Organising a meeting with other departments at Aberystwyth University to raise awareness of the MoU and to generate interest for future visits; • Using the learning from the meeting and a related desk exercise to map out potential research and teaching synergies between both institutions.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Island Oats 
Organisation Agricultural University of Iceland
Country Iceland 
PI Contribution new collaboration on developing oats for Iceland and understanding the physiology of key traits
Collaborator Contribution Field trials and networking meeting established
Impact Succesful application to NERC Arctic Networking Call
Start Year 2024
 
Description Molecular control of agronomic traits in grasses 
Organisation ETH Zurich
Country Switzerland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Resources involved in breeding grasses and legumes. ISP-supported experiments, including Challenge Gradient
Collaborator Contribution A world-leading group in molecular biology and genomics of grasses.
Impact NA
Start Year 2024
 
Description Sprouted cereals 
Organisation Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Department ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Country India 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have contributed towards metabolite profiling of sprouted cereals and also for mushrooms using our in-house High resolution metabolomics lab towards the development of novel functional foods.
Collaborator Contribution Partners at IARI has provided access to facilities to study food matrix associations in developing cereal based functional foods
Impact Three manuscripts on preliminary collaborative work is under preparation.
Start Year 2024
 
Description TUGBOAT-ICEBREAKER 
Organisation Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Country Canada 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Provide genetic material (both varieties and mapping populations) for cold tolerance screening and genotyping.
Collaborator Contribution Genome analysis and phenotyping
Impact Too early to report
Start Year 2024
 
Description Use of gene editing Eruca sativa for more effective biofumigation. FoodBioSystems DTP 
Organisation University of Reading
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The student is working under the supervision of Dr D Phillips and Prof Huw Jones to develop and apply gene editing and gene silencing methodologies in Eruca sativa.
Collaborator Contribution Colleagues at Uni of Reading, Dr L Bell and Dr M Chadwick will supervise the analysis of glucosinolate and isothiocyanate content in the wild type and edited crop plants. Also assess biofumigant activity in gene knockouts.
Impact No formal output yet.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Dr Fazhana Ismail 
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 Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact visitors from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Malaysia, Department of Agricultural Science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://directory.upsi.edu.my/experts/profile/E24CD285C605A08F
 
Description International group Fuling Li inward investment Welsh Govt 
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 Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Fact finding mission by Welsh Govt
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited lecture. Plant biotechnology regulation in Europe'. Bio Turkiye, Biotechnology Ecosystem for a Sustainable Life 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited in person lecture. 'Plant biotechnology regulation in Europe'. Bio Turkiye, Biotechnology Ecosystem for a Sustainable Life. Ottoman Archive Complex, Istanbul. 28 - 30 September 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://bioturkiye.org/congress/docs/bilimsel-program.pdf?a=9876
 
Description Oat Frontiers Stakeholder Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation, discussions and field visit held at Gunnersholt, Iceland with local cereal growers and Oat Frontiers consortium of scientists based in Finland, Norwar, Sweden, Ireland and Iceland.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description primary school visits 
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 Schools
Results and Impact 2 local schools, led by an AU computer science lecturer, were given a tour of the research facilities and relevant projects explained and discussed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024