BBSRC Core Strategic Programme in Resilient Crops: Upland Grasslands
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.
Technical Summary
Grasslands (pasture and rangeland) represent two thirds of UK agricultural land. The dominance of grasslands as land cover, which reduces the risks of flood and erosion, means that they are not only important to the delivery of agricultural products but also in their potential to deliver environmental services to a very sizeable area of the UK. Livestock in upland areas also play an important role in UK pastoral landscape management which is key for tourism and recreation. The uplands, typically grassland, are becoming an increasingly important natural resource for agricultural production as conflict for prime land intensifies. Over 40% of UK agricultural land carries a European Less Favoured Area designation due to physical and climatic challenges, with the related definition considered synonymous with that for the uplands by Defra. Agricultural subsidy reform, especially post “Brexit”, makes research for such marginal areas critical to ensuring the economic sustainability of many farms and rural communities into the future.
Sown grasslands in the UK are dominated by perennial ryegrass and clover population-based varieties and the persistence of an individual genotype is determined by Genotype x Environment interactions. These include plant-plant competition, different management practices, and abiotic and biotic stresses. We will combine complementary field platforms representative of 60% of UK grasslands to gain biological understanding of persistence, resilience and performance of forage species.
Grassland sward dynamics: UK arable fields typically contain a single variety of a single species. In contrast, grasslands contain multiple varieties of several species and genera. Species composition of resultant mixed swards determine the performance and quality of the livestock that feeds upon it. However, the species composition of the sward also changes over time because of competition between its members. We will use DNA-barcoding, plant neighbour analysis and remote sensing to track the spatial flux of constituent species under different management regimes. GBS of pooled (conspecific) samples will follow the fate of alleles within populations over multiple years to identify genes associated with high and low tolerance to interspecific competition. Functional confirmation of some loci will be achieved in a targeted longitudinal study of strong and poor performers study by transcriptomic (RNASeq) coupled with methylation analysis (MeDIP).
Biotic stress - grazing: Grazing is selective and imposes the single greatest biotic stress on grassland swards but is still relatively poorly understood on an individual plant basis. In contrast to grazing, mechanical harvesting (e.g. for silage) indiscriminately removes material to a uniform height, and so causes a different damage profile. We will use High Resolution imagery to monitor scale & frequency of damage to individual plants imposed by livestock/cutting, and NGS DNA barcoding on faecal samples/offcuts to determine species-specific biomass removal. Physiological responses of each species to typical levels of grazing/ cutting harm will be assessed by experimentation and observational measurements. We will use transcriptomic (RNASeq) and epigenetic (MSAP) profiling to characterise molecular responses to differing grazing/cutting damage in each species. Thus, we will gain insight of plant responses underpinning resilience to grazing/ cutting in the context of competing multi-species swards.
Sown grasslands in the UK are dominated by perennial ryegrass and clover population-based varieties and the persistence of an individual genotype is determined by Genotype x Environment interactions. These include plant-plant competition, different management practices, and abiotic and biotic stresses. We will combine complementary field platforms representative of 60% of UK grasslands to gain biological understanding of persistence, resilience and performance of forage species.
Grassland sward dynamics: UK arable fields typically contain a single variety of a single species. In contrast, grasslands contain multiple varieties of several species and genera. Species composition of resultant mixed swards determine the performance and quality of the livestock that feeds upon it. However, the species composition of the sward also changes over time because of competition between its members. We will use DNA-barcoding, plant neighbour analysis and remote sensing to track the spatial flux of constituent species under different management regimes. GBS of pooled (conspecific) samples will follow the fate of alleles within populations over multiple years to identify genes associated with high and low tolerance to interspecific competition. Functional confirmation of some loci will be achieved in a targeted longitudinal study of strong and poor performers study by transcriptomic (RNASeq) coupled with methylation analysis (MeDIP).
Biotic stress - grazing: Grazing is selective and imposes the single greatest biotic stress on grassland swards but is still relatively poorly understood on an individual plant basis. In contrast to grazing, mechanical harvesting (e.g. for silage) indiscriminately removes material to a uniform height, and so causes a different damage profile. We will use High Resolution imagery to monitor scale & frequency of damage to individual plants imposed by livestock/cutting, and NGS DNA barcoding on faecal samples/offcuts to determine species-specific biomass removal. Physiological responses of each species to typical levels of grazing/ cutting harm will be assessed by experimentation and observational measurements. We will use transcriptomic (RNASeq) and epigenetic (MSAP) profiling to characterise molecular responses to differing grazing/cutting damage in each species. Thus, we will gain insight of plant responses underpinning resilience to grazing/ cutting in the context of competing multi-species swards.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Publications
Emenyeonu LC
(2018)
The potential of aerosol eDNA sampling for the characterisation of commercial seed lots.
in PloS one
Forster D
(2021)
Influence of liming and sward management on soil carbon storage by semi-improved upland grasslands
in Soil and Tillage Research
Fraser M.D.
(2019)
Impact of management on foliage-dwelling arthropods and dynamics within permanent pastures
in Scientific Reports
Fraser MD
(2022)
Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity.
in Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
Kajzrová K
(2022)
The effect of 19 years of restoration managements on forage quality and herbage-soil relationships within improved upland grassland
in Grass and Forage Science
Konate M
(2020)
DNA Methylation Mechanism
Moorby JM
(2021)
Review: New feeds and new feeding systems in intensive and semi-intensive forage-fed ruminant livestock systems.
in Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
Pavlu L
(2021)
What is the effect of 19 years of restoration managements on soil and vegetation on formerly improved upland grassland?
in The Science of the total environment
| Description | We have created a unique, instrumented 'challenge gradient' experimental platform consisting of sites at 70 m, 150 m, 230 m and 340 m above sea level to test G x E interactions. Five replicated plots of two contrasting seed mixtures (one designed to optimize productivity, the other to optimize longevity) have been sown at each site, and alternative defoliation managements (continuous grazing, rotation grazing, frequent cutting, infrequent cutting) imposed for three growing seasons. Management has been found to have a substantial impact on sward stability. We have developed two new approaches for the large-scale screening of a genome for methylation marks that are diagnostic of stress, tissue identity or age. The first is an adaptation of the MethylRAD method described by Wang et al (2015, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.150130). The second is based on a novel approach to generate large numbers of epimarkers by Next Generation Sequencing but that also allows for their direct conversion into single-site markers that can be used in isolation or in combination with others. We found that excessive numbers of loci generated by MethylRAD compromised the statistical power to identify differentially methylated epimarks on a genome of the size of Lolium perenne. We have therefore developed an alternative approach based on existing strategies for targeting subsections of the genome. This strategy combined the well-established methods of MeDIP and AFLP, and has yielded large numbers of sites that are diagnostic of the stresses we are studying. We have also used 'smear DNA extraction' for pooled plant samples combined with an amended PCR-RFLP barcoding technique for use in high-throughput, low cost species identification for sward characterisation. The method exploits the supplementary markers described by Ford et al (2007) and others of our own that are smaller and less variable than the core barcodes (RBCL and MatK). This approach is being used to characterise the composition of a closed sward by a molecular barcoding equivalent to point quadrat analysis, except that it is more robust (less prone to identification error through lack of flowering parts or expertise by the recorder). We have discovered candidate epigenetic marks in roots and shoot tissues that are diagnostic for the proximity of roots from neighbouring plants. |
| Exploitation Route | Work on the challenge gradient will continue, to determine interactive effects of environmental and management on sward commission and stability in the medium terms. The studies will be widened to incorporate investigation of the impacts of the treatments on below ground processed and soil respiration. Samples and data from the study have been used by international research consortia studying the response of global grasslands to changing weather patterns. The high throughput screen for stress epimarkers that has been made possible using the new MeDip-AFLP atrategy will be useful to provide a series of markers to characterise field-associated stress in mixed species swards. However, it has potential value in disease diagnosis for human and animal welfare. The RFLP-PCR barcoding method will allow for continuous assessment of sward species composition without excessive cost. This will augment the ability to characterise sward flux by metabarcoding by increasing the number of time points and replicates that can be studied. In the longer term, this cheap approach may have broader value for the environmental impact assessment community and for schools. The discovery of epimarks that change in response to root-root contact represents a potential breakthrough in plant ecology and agricultural science. For the former, it may ultimately allow for the characterisation of underground competition between species. For the latter, it could play an important role in determining planting densities and in shaping the composition of commercial seed mixtures for forage. Similarly, the characterisation of climatic factors that evoke specific differences in epigenetic control of the plants of sward species represents a start point for subsequent characterisation of the molecular nature of the response and for ultimate selection in breeding efforts. The ability to compare the epigenetic and molecular responses of plants to grazing and mowing damage will equally help resolve the question of the extent to which mowing is an appropriate proxy for grazing in national list trials. More fundamentally, by separating the effects of confounding factors in the field (plant competition, grazing damage, climatic variables) we hope to provide a start point from which more mechanistic models of sward dynamics may be assembled. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Education Environment |
| Description | Engagement with policymakers in Welsh Government on soils and land use post-Brexit in Wales. Engagement was on sharing and integration of information and datasets to improve future recommendations. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Participation in UKRI Research Infrastructure Consultation including on Cross Cutting Themes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | COFUND |
| Amount | £201,743 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | C81380 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | COFUND |
| Amount | £57,936 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SER CYMRU COFUD R4 663830-AU170 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | The Ecology within: The impact of gut ecosystem dynamics on host fitness in the wild |
| Amount | £2,600,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/R016801/1 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | WEFO |
| Amount | £3,122,636 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | C81576 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Title | Altitudinal gradient research platform for resilient crops at Pwllpeiran and Trawscoed experimental sites |
| Description | The research tool comprises an altitudinal gradient for crop research on resilience at Trawscoed and Pwllpeiran experimental sites, both associated with Aberystwyth University farms (leased from BBSRC and Welsh Government, respectively). Four fields were identified at 70 m, 150 m, 230 m and 340 m, and meteorological stations installed. Crops (forage grasses, clover, Miscanthus and oats) were planted from 2017 onward. The development of such a research platform will enable a greater understanding of crop biology across multiple real world challenging environments relevant to UK agriculture. The lowest site at Trawscoed (70 m) is optimal for the growth of forage and energy crops, and next to the Met Office weather station for which we have long term climate data. The other three sites are more marginal and provide increasingly challenging growing conditions. These sites are in addition to existing more lowland experimental sites at Gogerddan and Morfa Mawr, which are both predominantly at elevations of 10-50 m, and UK and European field trials used by the breeding programmes. We have carried out preliminary soil analyses and all the soils are a sandy or silt clay loam, with the 340 m site having the lowest N and P but highest C content. Such an upland and marginal site platform allows us to address the need to make genetic improvements in our crops for resilience to environment variation and extreme weather in multiple UK relevant environments. To further understand the environmental conditions, the sites will be instrumented for detailed measurements of microclimate and soil volumetric water, and we will model plant available water and water balances for both excess and insufficient water. Given that many forage and energy crops are perennial and that conditions vary significantly from one year to the next, we believe this platform to provide an important capability for own own research and in addition in collaboration. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impacts yet, but experiments have been started and weather, soil and crop data collected. |
| Title | Epigenetic markers for the identification of plant parts |
| Description | Molecular dietary reconstruction is currently largely limited to the identification of species consumed via DNA metabarcoding. We developed a methylation-sensitive Genotype By Sequencing screen to identify candidate epimarks that are both organ-specific and conserved across the species (Kanate et al 2018). Using this approach, it was possible to distinguish between leaves and sheaths of different ages, and between these and other organ types. We have now developed an approach to convert the robust epimarks into single-locus markers. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The ability to distinguish between plant parts on the basis of epimarks that are diagnostic of a single tissue or developmental stage for the first time opens the possibility to differentiate between parts of the plant that are being favoured or avoided by a selective herbivore. At the same time, these same epimarks have potential value in studies of development and adopting forward epigenetics approaches for gene isolation. Since the initial work developing the msGBS screen (see DOI electronic submission) we have started to assemble comprehensive epigenetic atlas's for all the principal plants featuring in this project (Lolium, Avena, Miscanthus and Trifolium). |
| Title | Large-scale screening of a genome for methylation marks that are diagnostic of stress, tissue identity, disease or age. |
| Description | We have developed a new pipeline for the large-scale screening of a genome for methylation marks that are diagnostic of stress, tissue identity or age. The approach allows for the identification of specific loci that are diagnostic of a physiological state, tissue or stress exposure. The method based on differential amplification following restriction using a methylation sensitive restriction enzyme. The initial phase amplifies large numbers of candidate products which after Next Generation Sequencing, are converted to locus-specific epimarks for diagnostic purposes. The method does not rely on the use of adaptors and so is not covered by the patent for Genotype By Sequencing. A patent application is in preparation. In the current grant, the method will be applied to identify epimarks associated with elements of stress experienced by the component plant species growing in the experimental plots across the climatic gradient. However, we are also aware of the broader applications for animal and human diagnostics. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The key limitation of DNA methylation marks as diagnostic tools rests in the unsuitability of Bisulfite Sequencing for high throughput screening purposes. Methylation-Sensitive restriction followed by PCR amplification is far more robust approach for clean diagnosis but relies on identifying candidate loci from the very large number of potential sites across the genome. The ability to sieve large numbers of methylation-sensitive restriction sites for those individual that are reliably diagnostic between two states has wide-ranging potential. For example in addition to the original intended purpose of diagnosing plant different plant stresses in the current grant, the method could also be applied for disease diagnosis in animals and humans, the detection of physiological stresses in animals (animal welfare) and potentially as a tool in forward epigenetics studies. |
| Title | Remote detection of stress in roots |
| Description | We proposed that stresses experienced in the roots of plants would evoke epigenetic (DNA methylation) responses in the stressed organ but also in organs remote from that stress. We developed and used a methylation-sensitive Genotype By Sequencing approach to assemble genome-wide profiles of differentially methylated sites in comparisons between control plants and those exposed to various concentrations of soil salt. Significant numbers of differentially methylated marks were conserved across the entire panel of diverse genotypes and so were deemed strong candidates for the detection of root exposure to salt. Surprisingly, many of the leaf marks were more divergent between treatments than those seen in the roots. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We proposed that stresses experienced in the roots of plants would evoke epigenetic (DNA methylation) responses in the stressed organ but also in organs remote from that stress. Moreover, if stresses experienced in the roots caused reproducible changes in leaf tissues, this would open the way for leaf samples being used as sentinels for stresses experienced in the underground environment. We tested this hypothesis using a panel of representative barley germplasm. The methodological pipeline adopted revealed several robust epimarks in the leaves that responded to different levels of modest salt stress imposed on the root systems. This basic approach has the potential to revolutionise the study of plant stresses experienced in the soil. We are now extending the work on a range of species (including Lolium) to test the method's capacity of leaf DNA to detect root-root interactions and root-heavy metal interactions. |
| URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/2/2/12 |
| Description | Epigenetic variation in a long lived plant species |
| Organisation | Edge Hill University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to perform epigenetic profiling of plant parts and age in perennial plant species, with a view to identifying epimark-based characterisation of cell lineages within an individual. The project was conceived on the basis of early results from the BBSRC CSG and on previous work by the Wilkinson lab (in Adelaide). Aberystwyth provides the concept and methodologies for tissue and age diagnosis via epigenetic profiling, the laboratory facilities and phenotyping capability. Edge Hill provides the ecological study organisms, details on their physiology and population genetics (e.g. Tilia cordata), materials of study, and post doctoral worker to perform the study. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The first |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving epigenetics, plant ecology, phylogenetic reconstructions and remote sensing. At present, the main predicted output will be a NERC responsive mode application. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | (online rescheduled from a physical) Visit by the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association (WOTGA) |
| 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 | Presentation given to the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association (WOTGA) CPD session on the topic "Everything you ever wanted to know about grass and were afraid to ask!" which was an overview of IBERS science and the impact of its work on the Welsh landscape from forage grasses, clovers and oats through to elephant grass. This was going to be a physical visit to Gogerddan but was rescheduled to be online following the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Announcement of new partnership with Germinal to help farmers achieve net zero. |
| 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 and publicity announcing a new partnership between IBERS and Germinal to help farmers achieve net zero. This not just announced the start of a new working relationship on forage grasses and clovers but also the start of a broader partnership to deliver on net zero from grassland systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/news/news-article/title-240400-en.html |
| Description | Engagement with NFU Wales senior management team |
| 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 | Meeting with NFU Wales President, Chairman and senior Policy Adviser to discuss opportunities for on-going and future research to support a transition to net zero farming by the target date pf 2040. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Engagement with NFU local and national vice-president |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Engagement with NFU local farmers and representatives and the UK national vice-president (Stuart Roberts) to discuss food and farming including agricultural education and careers with early career researchers and in a panel session discussion with final year students. Further plans were discussed in relation to a public lecture on the future of food as part of the 100 years of plant breeding in Aberystwyth in late March in 2019, which will have a larger public and total engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/news/news-article/title-221473-en.html |
| Description | Food and Farming Futures / NFU Seminar: institutional frameworks to support a world-leading farming and food industry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Event to discuss "Do we have the right institutional framework in place to support a world-leading farming and food industry to deliver the ever-challenging needs of society?" The seminar built on the thinking of a recent industry-wide discussion reflecting that UK agriculture faces an unprecedented opportunity to take the driving seat for delivering society's needs; producing healthy food that helps to tackle the rise in diet-related human diseases, whilst protecting our precious environmental resources and which also helps to mitigate climate change, soil health, water and air quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Hosted visit from NFU on Net Zero Agriculture |
| 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 | Hosted a visit from a senior NFU team on their target for agriculture to be Net Zero by 2040. IBERS, including Core Strategic Programme (CSP) Science, was presented to describe how emissions can be decreased from ruminant livestock agriculture and what options there are for diversification into negative emission farming. The discussions included IBERS staff from all four CSP sub-programmes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Invited talk to the British Society of Animal Science Annual Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk on 'Livestock systems for improved biodiversity'. This was part of a session on "The potential contribution of livestock to addressing the twin emergencies of climate change and biodiversity loss", co-sponsored by the Stapledon Memorial Trust. The talk has led to a request for a review paper on this topic from Animal: an International journal of biosciences (due for submission April 2022). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation at Environment Platform Wales conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation entitled "Back to the future: How do we make the most of Welsh upland permanent pasture?" given to the Environment Platform Wales conference Environment Evidence: Resilience in the Welsh Uplands |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation at the Hay Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An hour-long event at the Hay Festival on "Engineering Landscapes: past, present and future innovation for upland farming" consisted of a 45 min presentation mixing history, science and poetry, followed by Q&A. There was considerable interest from the audience in the research covered, including this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation on project and field visit for visitors attending research centre Open Day. |
| 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 | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 70 - 80 people attend the Open Day each year. There was lots of interest, particularly form the farming community, with many pertinent questions asked. Fact sheets were prepared and available to all. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Presentation to delegation from Welsh Government |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk on the project was included in the itinerary for an 'away day' for staff from the Land, Nature and Forestry Division within Welsh Government. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Presentation to stakeholders |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Pwllpeiran Associates is a stakeholder group that consists of practitioners and policy makers/implementers with a particular interest in upland issues. The group membership includes representatives from e.g. the National Farmers Union, Farmers Union of Wales, CLA, RSPB, Natural Resources Wales, British Grassland Society, National Trust, and the Cambrian Mountains Initiative, plus a few industry-leading farmers (e.g. national grassland competition winners). A presentation was given to the group early in the project to give members an opportunity to contribute to the developing experimental programme, thus ensuring that research findings have industry and policy relevance as well as being scientifically excellent and novel. Several Associate group members also include updates on activities at Pwllpeiran in their membership newsletters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An invited presentation on "The potential to enhance the environment,reduce pollution, improve soils, support landscapes, wildlife/flora and amenity values" was given at an APPG Science and Technology in Agriculture meeting on "Grassland science and innovation - the key to a Green Brexit?" jointly organised by the Stapledon Memorial Trust and the British Society for Animal Science. The meeting was attended by members of the APPG, academics, policymakers from NGOs, plus representatives from levy bodies and the wider agricultural supply industry. The context for the meeting was the debate regarding farming support post-BREXIT and a proposed move towards payments for public goods. There was considerable interest in the potential for upland grasslands to be more productive and in the role of new technologies in achieving this. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.appg-agscience.org.uk/linkedfiles/MARIECIA%20FRASER.pdf |
| Description | Pwllpeiran Facebook page |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Pwllpeiran has it's own Facebook page that covers on-going activities at the centre, and which has a total of over 600 regional, national and international followers. On average two posts per week are added to the page and these include updates on this project. Given the number of shares which posts generally receive the reach for an individual post is often 1000-1500 and on occasion can be over 2000. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/pwllpeiran/ |
| Description | Pwllpeiran Open Day |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of Open Day activities at the research centre delegates were given in introductory talk followed by a tour of related experimental plots. There was a lot of interest in the project given current uncertainties about the future of farming in marginal areas and the need to improve grassland productivity and persistency, with many follow-up questions asked. Fact sheets were prepared and available to all. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | RWAS Welsh Grassland Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk on 'Making the most of marginal grasslands' given at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society's Welsh Grassland Event, which included a section on this project. The event is very popular with farmers and the wider agricultural supply industry, and features 50 plus trade stands from small, medium and large companies as well as an extensive programme of demonstrations. Project partners Olivers Seeds reported an increase in interest in mixed swards for uplands from farmers and growers visiting their stand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Royal Welsh Show 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Royal Welsh Show activities to communicate IBERS grassland science to a wide range of audiences. This included communication on new varieties and cropping systems as well as plant and animal health including a debate on bovine TB. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2019/07/title-224640-en.html |
| Description | Talk for the Royal Welsh Show virtual conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk on 'Making the most of Upland Grassland' given at a virtual conference organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Farmers Union of Wales to mark what should have been the Royal Welsh Show (cancelled due to COVID) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Training and Research activities in IBERS, University of Aberystwyth |
| 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 | Presentation and co-hosting a stand at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show relating to the training and research activities (including those relating to the current initiative) associated with the food chain. The presentation was attended by around 80 people but interactions continued throughout the show. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.rwas.wales/2017-results-1/ |
| Description | Video blog on the Farming Connect web-site |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre, where the research for this CSP sub-programme is based, is an Innovation Site for the Welsh Government-funded Knowledge Transfer, Innovation and Advisory Service. The Farming Connect web-site carries information sheets on all projects at the site, and research for the Grasslands for Challenging Environments project has also been featured in a short film they have prepared. The target audience for this is the farming community and advisers. Farming in Wales, like the rest of Western Britain, is dominated by grass-based sheep and beef production systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/demonstration-network-blogs/project-update-grassland-... |
| Description | Visit by Options Explorer secondary school pupils |
| 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 | Twenty pupils visited as part of a week long course run by the University's Centre for Widening Participation. The goal was to encourage pupils who might not be expected to go on to higher education to consider opportunities within STEM. A talk and tour led to lots of discussion and questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Working with Cows on Tour to engage with schools and the public on agriculture and food, and in 2019 linked into the role of plant breeding and the 100th anniversary of Plant breeding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We are working with Cows on Tour to engage with schools and the public on agriculture and food, and in 2019 have linked this to the role of plant breeding and the 100th anniversary of Plant breeding in Aberystwyth. We have met to discuss events and have started a series of engagements over the year, including some new ones for IBERS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.welshcountry.co.uk/cows-on-tour-go-all-out-jurassic-farm/ |
| Description | Workshop on Sustainable Livestock Systems for the Andes |
| 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 | A workshop with participants from Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador was held to discuss ways of developing more sustainable livestock systems in the Andean regions of South America, in particular using novel varieties of forages grasses - both tropical and temperate. Outputs included the identification of areas for development which would be most beneficial economically and environmentally for local and regional agricultural. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ystwyth Valley 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 | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An open evening event for the Ystwyth Valley Discussion Group, a group of about 25 local farmers and landowners to discuss the role of science and plant breeding for grassland farming. The event including a presentation, discussion and tours of the National Plant Phenomics Centre as an example of how modern technology is driving grassland science and the BEACON Biorefining Centre as an example of how more value can be created from grasslands and agricultural residues. There has been subsequent interest in learning more about IBERS science, particularly in the uplands, the use of oats again for livestock, and in the new varieties that are available and so plans are being made for further visits to the Pwllpeiran upland platform and to the forage grass and legume plots in the summer. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |