Published:
11:27 AM February 1, 2021
Prof Nitya Rao is director for the new Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development, based at Norwich Research Park
- Credit: UEA
A landmark new science centre has been created on the Norwich Research Park to solve the critical issue of global food security amid the growing threat of climate change.
The Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development will aim to find ways to help farmers all over the world to become more resilient to increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather events, from flooding to droughts.
The new institute was launched with £750,000 of funding from the John Innes Foundation, and is the first formal partnership of the internationally-recognised expertise in plant science from the John Innes Centre and the social sciences from UEA’s School of International Development.
The researchers also point out that resistant starch can be found in other foods and that work is already looking at how to breed staple crops such as rice and wheat with higher levels of the resistant starch to provide further options to help reduce type 2 diabetes.
Shining a spotlight on women and girls in science
Thursday, February 11 is this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. It’s a day when science shines a spotlight on its female researchers and scientists to demonstrate this interesting and valuable career.
Luckily at Norwich Research Park, there are many women who are leading the way in conducting world-leading research that is addressing some of the key challenges facing humankind in the areas of feeding the world, keeping healthy as we age and protecting the planet from climate change.
No sooner had Brexit been approved, than the GMO lobby shifted up a few gears Details
Discussion around new GMOs should be chance to ask uncomfortable questions about research and innovation, not sneer at non-GMO-believers, say professors
In the article below from the Belgian press, four professors (from schools of law, philosophy of science, and bioengineering) warn that Brexit shouldn t be a reason for deregulating new GMOs.
They make a number of extremely important points. Among them, that the driving force behind deregulation in Britain and parts of Europe – they focus on Belgium – is not really the issues that are flagged up (the hype about silver-bullet solutions to agricultural problems), but the lobbying power of Big Ag, together with an obsession at the national level with competitive advantage.
Professor Matt Hutchings is a group leader at the John Innes Centre
- Credit: Jake Newitt
Our medicines are becoming increasingly ineffective as pathogens that cause infectious diseases evolve. Professor Matt Hutchings, a group leader at the John Innes Centre (JIC), explains how his research team is working to discover new antibiotics that could be instrumental in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
‘Norwich is a great place to do science, a great place to live and it’s got a great football team!’ says Professor Matt Hutchings
- Credit: Matt Hutchings
Each month, those working at the pioneering heart of Norwich Research Park tell us how their work is shaping the world we live in. Read their stories here.
First vaccine for plants in development in bid to end use of poisonous pesticides
This comes as the government approved a bee-toxic pesticide for use this year
Insect decline is linked to the overuse of pesticides
Credit: Moment RF /Kimberly Hosey
A treatment for plants which scientists have said acts like a vaccine is under development as researchers battle to end the use of poisonous pesticides.
The National Farmers Union campaigned for sugar beet growers to be able to use Cruiser SB, which tackles the disease Virus Yellows, in order to save this year s crop.
The disease is carried by aphids, which are killed by the neonicotinoid.