Plant adaptations, biochemistry and food quality
The overarching objective of our group is to understand the interactions between environmental factors, crop genetics, and metabolic responses to enhance the nutritional (e.g., proteins, sugars, fats, fibres, minerals, carotenoids, and vitamins), organoleptic and bioactive properties (e.g., polyphenols, triterpenoids) of plant-based foods and other natural products of industrial interest (e.g., pharmaceuticals, chemical precursors, colourants, and flavours).
Our collaborative, multidisciplinary research — combining outdoor and controlled-environment trials with lab-based wet work and advanced analytical studies — is supported by a wide range of industrial stakeholders and closely align with the goals of our flagship initiatives, the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) , the National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC), International Barley Hub (IBH), and directly contributes to the PRODUCE pillar of the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC).
Our research focus includes:
- Sourcing food and functional proteins from diverse protein-rich crops, including grain legumes.
- Exploring how environmental stresses –such as temperatures, drought, and nutrient conditions–affect resilience, crop performance and the nutritional quality of food in outdoor and controlled farming systems.
- Understanding the balance between nutrients, anti-nutrients and by-products in foods.
- Valorising crop waste as sources of high-value ingredients such as plant-based proteins, pigments, antioxidants and bioactives.
- Understanding how storage and processing influence final product quality
Translational research:
Examples of the research supported by industrial stakeholders
- Broccoli biomass side streams as feedstock for nutritious and sustainable protein (Brotein). NAPIC Collaborative Programme Funding (CPF)/Industrial Partner – Upcycled Plant Power Ltd.
- Genetic diversity and advanced technological approaches to improve light-use efficiency in vertical farming (LightPuls-VF). BBSRC/Innovate UK/Industrial Partner – Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd.
- Tailored environmental conditions to modulate metabolic profiles in medicinal cannabis strains. (CE-CannPharm) BBSRC/Innovate UK/Industrial Partner – GlassPharms Ltd.
- Seaweed extracts as a nutrient management tool to enhance nutrient use efficiency and crop performance (SKE-NMT). Innovate UK/Industrial Partners – Algapelago Marine Ltd and Atlantic Mariculture Ltd.
- Developing chemical stabilisation strategies to unlock techno-economically viable year-round biorefining of sustainably farmed Scottish kelp. Innovate UK/ Industrial partner- Kaly Ltd
- Sustainable valorisation of potato haulms for cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical products (Phytocosmo). Innovate UK/ Industrial partner – Grampian Growers Ltd
- Defining Quality and Productivity Benchmarks for Vertical Pulse Production (VertiPulse). NAPIC CPF II/Industrial Partner – Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd.
Fundamental-Translational research:
Examples of the research supported by industrial stakeholders
- Progressive Solutions for European Feed Autonomy through Sustainable Plant Protein Value Chains (ProFEED). Horizon EU Grant agreement ID: 101286912. WP: Advancing Resilience and Yield in Strategic EU Protein Crops.
- Dissecting Drought-Driven Responses in Faba Bean: Physiology, Phenotypes and Protein (Faba3P). Hutton Seedcorn programme.
More Information:
Group leads: Raul Huertas (Head) and Ahmed Tawfike (Deputy).
Rest of Group members: Derek Stewart, Gordon McDougall, Martina Picmanova, Yogeswari Rajarathinam, Marta Maluk, Ruixian Han, Simon Pont, Ceri Austin and Manickavasakam Ramasamy.
You can also stay connected with our science by following us on social media. Here, you’ll get real-time updates on our projects, news, events, and collaborations. Follow us on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Facebook now.
