EPI Highlights
An occasional series on the achievements and wider relevance of research and applications in the EPI science programme.
- Can indigenous microbes release phosphorus to crops?
- Coexistence and ecological biosafety of two GM crops in Europe
- Maths, modelling and quantitative biology
- New directions in the Living Field project
- Threats to our soils in a changing climate
- New ecological patterns from the GM crop trials (FSEs) database
- Modern composts for soil health, good crops and landscaping
- Selenium, bread and man
Can indigenous microbes release phosphorus to crops?
An innovative new project aims to select and use indigenous, phosphorus-solubilising fungi and bacteria to increase the yield of crops by reducing phosphorus deficiency in the tropical soils of Cameroon. Isolation and testing of the microbes in the laboratory at SCRI will pave the way for field trials in Cameroon.
Read more on the Can indigenous microbes release phosphorus to crops? page.
Coexistence and ecological biosafety of two GM crops in Europe
The three-year, EU-funded project SIGMEA combined skills from many disciplines to examine the biological, environmental, agronomic, economic and legal issues that determine whether GM and non-GM crops can feasibly be grown in the same agricultural landscape. Its conclusions differed for the two crops that have been most widely studied.
Read more on the Coexistence and ecological biosafety of two GM crops in Europe page.
Maths, modelling and quantitative biology
The diverse group of modellers and mathematical biologists in EPI has now reached critical mass with some 15 in-house researchers and students. They direct a range of concepts and tools to questions in systems biology, at scales of organ, individual and community, and in applications as diverse as plant-plant sensing, multi-trophic interactions, ‘industrial’ genotypes and GM coexistence policy.
Read more on the Maths, modelling and quantitative biology page.
New directions in the Living Field project
SCRI’s widely respected educational project on the public understanding of science, established with charitable grants of £100k, now provides a range of IT aids, a demonstration garden, all-weather facilities and a study centre. It plans expansion to reach a wider public, while keeping its roots in the excitement of discovery.
Read more on the New directions in the Living Field project page.
Threats to our soils in a changing climate
Soil scientists at SCRI join a UK-wide consortium of research institutes and universities in a new £100k project to assess the effects of climatic change on threats to soil.
Read more on the Threats to our soils in a changing climate page.
New ecological patterns from the GM crop trials (FSEs) database
Two scientific papers (January 2009) on food webs and species-accumulation offer new approaches to GM risk assessment and post-commercial monitoring.
Read more on the New ecological patterns from the GM crop trials (FSEs) database page.
Modern composts for soil health, good crops and landscaping
Scientists in EPI have been awarded more than £200,000 in research grants, 2007-2009, to find and test new uses for urban green wastes in eco-engineering and agriculture.
Read more on the Modern composts for soil health, good crops and landscaping page.
Selenium, bread and man
Collaborative research with the University of Nottingham on the BAGELS project aims to increase the amount of selenium in bread which is linked to human wellbeing.
Read more on the Selenium, bread and man page.
