Cambridge researcher Dr Nicola Patron has been awarded a share of over £2 million to lead the UK’s contribution to a new global centre working to address urgent agricultural problems and explore sustainable solutions for agriculture.
The centre is one of six Global Centres recently announced by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and international partner agencies, including the UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The 2024 Global Centers awards focus on advancing bioeconomy research to solve global challenges, whether by increasing crop resilience, converting plant matter or other biomass into fuel, or paving the way for biofoundries to scale-up applications of biotechnology for societal benefit. The program supports holistic, multidisciplinary projects that bring together international teams and scientific disciplines, including education and social sciences, necessary to achieve use-inspired outcomes. All Global Centers will integrate public engagement and workforce development, paying close attention to impacts on communities.
 | The announcement today will be at the forefront of real-world solutions, from improved recycling to new bioplastics, building a sustainable circular economy. The centres will create the global networks and skills needed to drive a thriving bioeconomy benefitting all.” Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI |
International Research Center for Enhancing Plant Resilience
The International Research Center for Enhancing Plant Resilience at Michigan State University brings together experts from the U.S., Canada, Japan, ROK, and the U.K. to address urgent agricultural problems and explore sustainable solutions for agriculture. It addresses the critical challenge of stabilising global food production amid unpredictable weather patterns and increasing environmental stressors. By discovering and harnessing natural products from plans and microbes, it aims to enhance plant and soil health and create natural solutions to stabilise crop productivity.
The UK team will be led by Dr Nicola Patron from the Department of Plant Sciences. Nicola’s lab develops and applies engineering approaches to understand biological complexity and advance plant biotechnology. This includes aiming to optimise crop performance through the rational engineering and rewiring of regulatory networks. UK co-investigators include Dr Benjamin Lichman and Prof Ian Graham, University of York, whilst international collaborators include Centre Director Seung Rhee (Michigan State University, USA), Olivia Wilkins (University of Manitoba, Canada), Tae-Jin Oh (Sun Moon University, Korea) and Motoaki Seki (RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Japan).
Research on the natural products made by plants and microbes has identified numerous molecules and drugs that have improved human health. This chemical diversity also provides the potential to enhance plant health and resilience against climate change. We are excited to be a part of the Global Center for Plant Resilience that aims to enhance agricultural resilience through green chemistry by exploring the untapped chemical diversity of plants and microbes.” Dr Nicola Patron, University of Cambridge |
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Credits and Acknowledgements
Information on 2024 Global Centres awards courtesy of U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
