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, organoleptic and bioactive properties of plant-based foods and other natural products of industrial interest.
By bridging plant genetics and molecular physiology with food chemistry and advanced metabolomics, we aim to uncover the biological mechanisms that govern plant development and adaptation, as well as the quantity, quality, sensory, bioactive, and functional properties of plant-derived foods and products.
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) and 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 ingredient proteins from diverse protein-rich crops including legumes/pulses and amaranth
- Exploring how environmental stresses such as temperature, drought, and nutrient conditions affect 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 food ingredients (e.g., plant-based proteins) and non-food components (e.g., pigments)
Current translational research supported by industry
Our research is supported by a wide range of industrial stakeholders and closely aligns with translation in the APGC. Current programs focus on:
- 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
- Seaweed extracts as a nutrient management tool to enhance nutrient use efficiency and c.rop performance. SKE-NMT. Innovate UK/Industrial Partner – UK Agri-Tech Centre, Algapelago Marine Ltd and Atlantic Mariculture Ltd
- Tailored environmental conditions to modulate metabolic profiles in medicinal cannabis strains. CE-CannPharm. BBSRC/Innovate UK/Industrial Partner – GlassPharms Ltd
The plant adaptations, biochemistry and food quality team
Group leads: Gordon McDougall (head) and Raul Huertas (co-head)
Rest of Group members: Derek Stewart, Ahmed Tawfike, Martina Picmanova, Yogeswari Rajarathinam, Marta Maluk, Ruixian Han, Simon Pont, Ceri Austin and Manickavasakam Ramasamy.
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