Harnessing Biosyntheiss for Sustainable Food and Health: Targeting metabolic traits to improve the nutritional value and sustainability of crops
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: UNLISTED
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.
Technical Summary
Targeting metabolic traits to improve the nutritional quality and sustainability of crops
Food security demands a supply of food that provides a healthy and nutritious diet keeps pace with growing populations and overcomes the threats posed by climate change and the environmental damage caused by unsustainable agricultural practices. In WP1 we will target metabolic traits to produce new crop varieties with properties that address the health issues of obesity malnutrition and under-nutrition in the developed and developing world. In parallel we will exploit our knowledge of plant metabolism to achieve high-yielding crops with reduced agrochemical inputs and lower environmental impacts.
The wealth of available sequence data and emerging genome-editing technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for elucidating the molecular and genetic basis of important metabolic traits in crops. JIC’s Germplasm Resources Unit houses several large collections of important crops including wheat (Watkins collection; tetraploid and hexaploid TILLING lines; Aegilops tauschii variety panel) pea (world heritage collections; mutant collections) and the GCRF supported orphan crop grass pea (Lathyrus sativus). In the last five years genome sequences of many accessions of these collections have been generated providing a rich source from which to discover genes involved in uncharacterized biochemical pathways. Application of our knowledge and technical expertise in plant metabolic biology has already uncovered several genes and genetic polymorphisms affecting biosynthetic steps that alter nutritional traits such as iron levels starch properties and health-promoting flavonoids in various crops. A vast wealth of genomic data remains to be explored.
We will expand our mining of these data for valuable traits of interest to consumers and industry for balanced sustainable plant-based diets. Traits include starch digestibility the levels and bioavailability of minerals vitamin D3 polyphenols and flavour components and the removal of anti-nutritional toxic and “off-flavour” compounds. We will also target metabolic traits that contribute to the sustainability of crop production including nitrogen use efficiency pollinator attraction and defence against pests and fungal pathogens with the aim of identifying molecular strategies for crop improvement. Using the latest Gene-Editing (GE) technologies and the crop transformation platform at JIC we will generate proof-of-principle and pre-breeding material for important traits we uncover. Research in WP1 is closely allied to and integrated with research on crops in the BRiC DSW and APH ISPs and the FMH ISP at QIB.
Food security demands a supply of food that provides a healthy and nutritious diet keeps pace with growing populations and overcomes the threats posed by climate change and the environmental damage caused by unsustainable agricultural practices. In WP1 we will target metabolic traits to produce new crop varieties with properties that address the health issues of obesity malnutrition and under-nutrition in the developed and developing world. In parallel we will exploit our knowledge of plant metabolism to achieve high-yielding crops with reduced agrochemical inputs and lower environmental impacts.
The wealth of available sequence data and emerging genome-editing technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for elucidating the molecular and genetic basis of important metabolic traits in crops. JIC’s Germplasm Resources Unit houses several large collections of important crops including wheat (Watkins collection; tetraploid and hexaploid TILLING lines; Aegilops tauschii variety panel) pea (world heritage collections; mutant collections) and the GCRF supported orphan crop grass pea (Lathyrus sativus). In the last five years genome sequences of many accessions of these collections have been generated providing a rich source from which to discover genes involved in uncharacterized biochemical pathways. Application of our knowledge and technical expertise in plant metabolic biology has already uncovered several genes and genetic polymorphisms affecting biosynthetic steps that alter nutritional traits such as iron levels starch properties and health-promoting flavonoids in various crops. A vast wealth of genomic data remains to be explored.
We will expand our mining of these data for valuable traits of interest to consumers and industry for balanced sustainable plant-based diets. Traits include starch digestibility the levels and bioavailability of minerals vitamin D3 polyphenols and flavour components and the removal of anti-nutritional toxic and “off-flavour” compounds. We will also target metabolic traits that contribute to the sustainability of crop production including nitrogen use efficiency pollinator attraction and defence against pests and fungal pathogens with the aim of identifying molecular strategies for crop improvement. Using the latest Gene-Editing (GE) technologies and the crop transformation platform at JIC we will generate proof-of-principle and pre-breeding material for important traits we uncover. Research in WP1 is closely allied to and integrated with research on crops in the BRiC DSW and APH ISPs and the FMH ISP at QIB.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
Publications
Alagna F
(2023)
OeBAS and CYP716C67 catalyze the biosynthesis of health-beneficial triterpenoids in olive (Olea europaea) fruits.
in The New phytologist
Atkinson N
(2024)
SAGA1 and SAGA2 promote starch formation around proto-pyrenoids in Arabidopsis chloroplasts.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Byers K
(2023)
Reducing eggs on eggplant: a common naturally emitted plant volatile could replace insecticides in the 'king of vegetables'
in New Phytologist
De La Peña R
(2023)
Complex scaffold remodeling in plant triterpene biosynthesis.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
De Mattos-Shipley K
(2023)
Limonoids on the menu.
in Nature chemical biology
Goddard ZR
(2024)
Advances in triterpene drug discovery.
in Trends in pharmacological sciences
Ji W
(2024)
Understanding metabolic diversification in plants: branchpoints in the evolution of specialized metabolism.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Kamble NU
(2023)
Initiation of B-type starch granules in wheat endosperm requires the plastidial a-glucan phosphorylase PHS1.
in The Plant cell
Ma Y
(2023)
Vacuolar MATE/DTX protein-mediated cucurbitacin C transport is co-regulated with bitterness biosynthesis in cucumber.
in The New phytologist
McNelly R
(2023)
Exploring the potential of plastid biology and biotechnology Plastid Preview Meeting, Norwich, UK, 1-2 September 2022
in New Phytologist
| Description | Attended Roundtable meeting to discuss how Government might further help in the UK's engineering biology sector. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Discussion with Thérèse Coffey MP - Defra Secretary of State |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Precision Breeding Act passed - highly relevant to JIC science and future crop breeding science. |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/game-changing-genetic-technology-bill-passes-into-law-in-england/ |
| Description | Visit by Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for human health |
| Amount | £4,817,214 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 227375/Z/23/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2031 |
| Title | Biosynthesis |
| Description | The present invention relates to a biosynthetic route to the QS-21 and QS-18 molecules including the C-18 acyl chain and precursors thereof, as well as enzymes involved, the products produced and uses of the products. |
| IP Reference | WO2023180677 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS |
| Description | The present invention relates to a biosynthetic route to intermediates of the QS-21 molecule, as well as routes to make the QS-21 molecule, enzymes involved, the products produced and uses of the product. |
| IP Reference | WO2022136563 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING TO THE SYNTHESIS OF THE QS-7 MOLECULE |
| Description | The present invention relates to a biosynthetic route to precursors of the QS-7 molecule, as well as routes to make the QS-7 molecule, enzymes involved, the products produced and uses of the product. |
| IP Reference | WO2024003514 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2024 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | Metabolic engineering |
| Description | The invention relates generally to materials and methods for biosynthesising quillaic acid in a host by expressing heterologous nucleotide sequences in the host each of which encodes a polypeptide which in combination have said QA biosynthesis activity. Example polypeptides include (i) a Beta-amyrin synthase; (ii) an enzyme capable of oxidising Beta-amyrin or an oxidised derivative thereof at the C-28 position to a carboxylic acid; (iii) an enzyme capable of oxidising Beta-amyrin or an oxidised derivative thereof at the C-16a position to an alcohol; and (iv) an enzyme capable of oxidising Beta-amyrin or an oxidised derivative thereof at the C-23 position to an aldehyde. Preferred nucleotide sequences are obtained from, or derived from, Q. saponaria. |
| IP Reference | WO2019122259 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | This patent has been pivotal to the development of a large collaboration with a major pharma company. |
| Title | SAPONARIOSIDE BIOSYNTHETIC ENZYMES |
| Description | This invention relates to methods of producing triterpenoids using one or more of (i) Saponaria officinalis ß-amyrin synthase (SobAS) (ii) S. officinalis C28 oxidase (SoC28) (iii) S. officinalis C28C16 oxidase (SoC28C16) (iv) S. officinalis C23 oxidase (SoC23); (v) S. officinalis QA 3-O glucuronosyl transferase SoCSL; (vi) S. officinalis QA-GlcA SoC3Gal; (vii) S. officinalis QA-GlcA-Gal x SoC3Xyl (viii) S. officinalis QA-Tri fucosyl transferase SoC28Fu (ix) S. officinalis QA-TriF rhamnosyl transferase SoC28Rha (x) S. officinalis QA-TriFR xyl SoC28Xyl1; (xi) S. officinalis QA-TriFRX xyl SoC28Xyl2; (xii) S. officinalis QA-TriFRXX quinovosyl SoGH1 and (xiii) S. officinalis QA-TriF(Q)RXX acetyl SoBAHD1 polypeptide. Methods, host cells, isolated polypeptides, nucleic acids, and plants are provided. |
| IP Reference | WO2024003012 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2024 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | SAPONIN PRODUCTION IN YEAST |
| Description | The present invention relates inter alia to methods of biosynthetic production of QS-21, precursors and variants thereof, and to related aspects. |
| IP Reference | WO2023122801 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | TRANSFERASE ENZYMES |
| Description | The present invention relates generally to genes and polypeptides which have utility in glycosylating quillaic acid in host cells, including enzymes capable of successive glycosylation at the C-3 position of quillaic acid. The invention further relates to systems, methods and products employing the same. |
| IP Reference | WO2020260475 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | TBC |
| Description | "A million shades of green: Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for therapeutic applications" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | SCI Engineering Biology Conference, theme of translation out of academia into industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | "Unlocking a pharmaceutical treasure trove-Elucidation of the pathway for biosynthesis of saponariosides from the soapwort plant" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Post Doc talk at Plant Genomes, Systems Biology & Engineering Conference Nov. 29th - Dec. 2nd 2023, at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | '"Limonoid biosynthesis in plants- scaffold rearrangment and furan formaion" - PostDoc Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk at The chemistry and biology of natural products symposium XVI |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Agritech Careers Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We set up a day for sixth form science students to come to our research institute to learn about Agritech careers stemming from plant and microbial sciences. The students got to hear from a range of presenters from new PhD students to group leaders, spin out companies, industry and business. They also visited our field station to see large-scale crop trials out in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Anne Osbourn meeting with George Freeman MP during visit to Norwich Research Park |
| 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 | Anne Osbourn met George Freeman MP (Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) as one of the NRP Entrepreneurial Researchers. Professor Anne Osbourn, Founder of Hothouse Therapeutics, spoke about Unlocking Nature's Inaccessible Chemistry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Anne Osbourn was on the Scientific Advisory Review Committee for the Weizmann Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | President of the Weizmann Institute of Science invited the assistance of Anne Osbourn with a Scientific Academic Advisory Committee (SAAC) review of Plant and Environmental Sciences (2022) at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, scheduled to take place on October 23, 2022 through October 27, 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Article - Vaccine Adjuvant QS-21 Produced in Tobacco |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | GEN Article quoting AS-21 Work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | BBC Radio 4 "Start The Week" appearance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Appearance as a guest on BBC Radio 4's "Start The Week" show (42 minutes) with colleagues from Oxford and Kew on a show titled "Mysterious Plants". Audience for the show reaches 3 million according to BBC invite. Multiple engagements and feedback via email and Twitter, including offers of collaboration and public questions. Audiences very keen to hear more about plant science, an often under-reported topic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wxkb |
| Description | Breeders Day 2023 |
| 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 | Over 60 stakeholders attendees this year including 12 crop breeding companies, 3 farms, 2 agronomists, agri-tech, biotech and environmental consultants, wildlife charities and industrial representative bodies such as the NFU, BBSRC and DEFRA. Demonstration of pea diversity set and yield resilience in oilseed rape amongst other areas of JIC research. 64% of attendees anticipated follow-up discussions with scientists. These stakeholders found the event a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest research, maintain and improve relationships, both with us and with each other. Our questionnaire revealed that they valued the opportunity to ask questions and learn about recent advances - for example, in drone applications for crop phenotyping and genome editing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Conference Participant SynBITECH: Company Reviews and Panel Discussion: Women in SynBio |
| 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 | Conference Participant SynBITECH: Company Reviews and Panel Discussion: Women in SynBio, Panel discussions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Conference Poster - Circadian regulation of rhizosphere interactions |
| 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 | Conference Poster presented at the UK Clock Club in Cambridge on 6 October 2023. The poster explores the topic of the circadian regulation of specialized metabolism. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Cracking Natures Code, Engineering Biology (House Magazine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Content in magazine following an interview, which is targeted at the Houses of Parliament. Article Title: "Cracking Natures Code" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Industry - Project Update Meeting with Syngenta |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Limonoid Project update meeting with Syngenta, held on zoom in March 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Find My Futures -Informal discussions with year 8 students on careers 2023 |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participated as part of a group of scientists, discussing with around 200 year 8 students, potential job opportunities and experiences of working as a scientist and programme manager for institute strategic programmes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited Panel Member - External Review for the RIKEN Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited panel member as part of the external review panel for the RIKEN Institute, Advisory Council of RIKEN CSRS in Yokohama in August 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | JIC Press Release by JIC Comms "Unlocking the Power of Peas: Genetic discovery promises high-iron vegetables and cereals" |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release was picked up by 11 media outlets. This gave an online reach of 15.5 million people. The news story was then featured in BBC Radio 4 Farming Today which reaches 1.6m listeners each week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/unlocking-the-power-of-peas-genetic-discovery-promises-high-iron-vegetabl... |
| Description | JIC Press Release on US launch of GM purple tomato seeds |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | JIC press release on the sale in the US of high anthocyanin purple tomato seeds was picked up by 142 national and international media outlets with an online reach of 84.1 million people and and a reach o 39000 by print media. An additional 49m were reached by ITV.com after the story feature on ITV in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/us-gardeners-rush-to-snap-up-purple-tomatoes-pioneered-in-norfolk/ |
| Description | Lecture on inclusion of disability in biosciences (University of Exeter Penryn) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a public lecture and panel Q&A for the University of Exeter Penryn Inclusivity Matters! seminar series covering disability inclusion in biosciences. Approximately 80 postgraduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff attended and asked questions and were engaged. Attendees asked many questions and attitudes about disability changed in a positive manner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/inclusion/nep/projects/inclusivitymatters/ |
| Description | Lecture on inclusion of disability in biosciences (University of Guelph, Canada) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a public lecture in person for the University of Guelph, Canada covering disability inclusion as the inaugural speaker of the College of Biological Science Community Seminar Series. Approximately 70 postgraduate and undergraduate students and faculty as well as university administrators attended. Attendees asked many questions and attitudes about disability changed in a positive manner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/events/2023/12/disabled-field-navigating-nature-and-academia-disabled-sc... |
| Description | Magazine Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Journalist writing a piece about the Department for science, innovation and technology's vision for engineering biology, for House Magazine. Focusing on the vision and the government's aspirations for the field. Particular interest in way work is becoming increasingly important to medicine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Member of Group - UKRI BBSRC Biological Diversity Working Group Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Biological Diversity Working Group in person and on zoom held on 23rd November 2023. Included 5 minute presentation on perspectives on biological diversity (including own research and wider opportunities, trends and drivers relating to biological diversity) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Morley Innovation Day 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussed our research on oilseed rape yield stability, Plenty Sense soil nitrogen sensors for optimising crop nitrogen applications, volatile production in oilseed rape and the potential to influence pollination/allergies and genome editing as a tool for developing new crops. Participants were farmers, agronomists and research organisations specialising in crop development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Norwich Science Festival; interacting with the general public, Making Molecules |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Novozymes Prize Lecture - From plant defence to therapeutics: The metabolic poetry of science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | From plant defence to therapeutics: The metabolic poetry of science - Anne Osbourn presented the 2023 Novozymes Prize Lecture at John Innes Centre on Monday 12 June 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | On-line discussion with Dyson Farm |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions on how we could work together and our areas of research expertise. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral Presentation - "Finding Drugs in the garden: Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for therapeutic applications" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation "Finding Drugs in the garden: Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for therapeutic applications" given at the New Phytologist Transformative Plant Biotechnology Workshop in Edinburgh on 20 September 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Oral Presentation - "Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for food and health applications" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | High Value Biorenewables Annual Meeting, 14-15 November 2023 in Manchester. Oral Presentation - "Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for food and health applications" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | PGCE training workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | We ran training session for PGCE students studying science specialism at the University of East Anglia to give them practical ideas and resources to implement science-based learning in their classrooms when they become qualified teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Panel Member - UKRI Connect Transforming Tomorrow Together Event |
| 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 | Panel Member at UKRI Connect Transforming Tomorrow Together Event held on 20th October 2023. Aim of event was to showcase and discuss the local impacts of research and innovation, and how innovation in funding approaches can help facilitate this, consisted of two panels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented to a cohort of new PhD students about the importance of public engagement and the role they can play in global citizenship as scientists. A range of examples were shown to demonstrate the different audiences and approaches that can be taken that enable all researchers to play a part in these activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation - "A million shades of green: understanding and harnessing plant metabolic diversity" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | "Using Bioinformatics to Guide Engineering Strategies in Crops" Masterclass (held Virtually). Audience mix of Research Scientists, plant breeders and agronomists (including some industry partners) from all over the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Press Article - Learning how plants make limonoids |
| 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 | Learning how plants make limonoids - Article by Bethany Halford. Chemical & Engineering News (ISSN 0009-2347), 30 January 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/natural-products/Learning-plants-make-limonoids/101/web/202... |
| Description | Press Article - Plants can make chemicals for bee-friendly insecticides |
| 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 | Plants can make chemicals for bee-friendly insecticides - Article by Margaret Evans in the Western Producer, published 9 March 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.producer.com/news/plants-can-make-chemicals-for-bee-friendly-insecticides/ |
| Description | Press release by JIC Comms "Starch Discovery reaps rewards for brewing, baking and milling industries" |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release was picked up by 29 media outlets and had an online reach of 30.2 million people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/starch-discovery-reaps-benefits-for-brewing-baking-and-milling-industries... |
| Description | School Science Art and Writing (SAW) project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We made 3 visits to our closest junior school to deliver plant natural product themed Science Art and Writing workshops for year 4 and 5 children. They learned about the amazing chemical diversity in plants, their uses and how scientists are studying them. They did their own chemical extractions and wrote poetry and produced art. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Science Art and Writing (SAW) project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A group of scientists, artists and writers visited a rural Primary school to deliver an assembly and then a day of workshops that looked at plant diversity and relationships with microbes in the rhizosphere. Children participated in practical science activities including surveying their school grounds and taking samples of cereal and legume plants, observing root nodules on clover plants under microscopes, making soil bacteria plates and learning about symbiosis. They wrote poetry and produced art work based on the science topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Science Art and Writing (SAW) project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We developed and ran a plant stress response workshop for primary schools that showed children how plants have evolved different mechanisms to tolerate stressful environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Science Art and Writing (SAW) project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We put on a 2 day Science Art and Writing Project for 60 children to inspire them about biology with hands-on activities including microscopy and extended learning through science-themed poetry and art sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Science Art and Writing Project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We visited a local Primary school to run a Science Art and Writing Project on the theme of plant pathogens. The children were able to explore their own school grounds to search for evidence of pathogenic microbes by gathering diseased leaf samples that were observed under microscopes. The class also made leaf pressings onto agar plates to grow microbes living in their environment and learned about plant defense responses to invading pathogens. They further explored the concepts and new vocabulary though poetry writing and visual art activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Visit (Cambourne) - SAW Trust |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 2 day hands-on SAW workshop for year 6 children at a Primary school in Cambourne. Aim to inspire and inform school children - there were 4 science activity stations followed by a creative writing activity and art activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Schools Q&A virtual visit (Greenwood Primary and Nursery School, Nottingham) |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Virtual Q&A visit to Greenwood Primary and Nursery School in Nottinghamshire to answer questions from Year 3 students about plant sciences and how they can become involved in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Schools visit and farm day, Bawburgh School (Bawburgh, Norfolk) |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two separate events with Bawburgh School. Visited the school and led six classrooms (ca. 15 students each plus staff, Reception to Year 5) on pollinator observations in a nearby meadow and the school classrooms. Students also visited the JIC Church Farm experimental station and learned more about pollination and floral structure and smell on a second day. Students expressed interest in the subject and asked questions about how to become scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science Activity Book |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We produced a science activity story book for children that encourages them to explore their local environment and carry out scientific investigations to build confidence as independent learners. The books were printed and sent out for free to 4000 school children across the County and shared with community organisations and food banks to reach as many families as possible. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science Communication Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Ran a science outreach workshop as part of the University of East Anglia's Science Communication module. Students were first encouraged to think about why sci comm is important and who the various audiences are. We worked through some example activities to show how complicated concepts can be broken down to make them accessible to a non-science audience and we also explored cross-disciplinary approaches to science outreach and the benefits seen by giving people different ways to explore science topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science Workshop |
| 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 | A school group made a visit to the Norwich Research Park and we were asked to run a hands-on science activity for the children. We taught the children about how plants are the source of a wonderful array of useful chemicals and then helped them do some extractions from a selection of different plants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science activity stand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an activity stand at Latitude Festival that showed how and why scientists record and monitor biodiversity. We used examples from a range of species to show how research projects are making an impact on protecting and seeking to reverse declines in biodiversity. We also showed the benefits that species bring to humans in terms of chemicals, materials, food and environmental services and benefits to our well being. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Seminar - "Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for food and health applications" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar given at VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology - Title: "Harnessing plant metabolic diversity for food and health applications" on 22nd February 2024 as part of a wider visit to the Center. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |