New opportunities for barley New uses for barley, but also new growing regions and ways to enhance crop yield under stressful conditions caused by climate change are all now under increased focus at the Hutton, thanks to a string of collaborative projects. By teaming up with scientists from across Europe as part of a major new project, experts from the University of Dundee and the Hutton hope to unlock several new uses for barley. Known as BEST-CROP, the study will analyse current varieties of barley and determine how these can be enhanced to improve its yield in light of a growing global population and pressures placed on food supplies by climate change and political events. The research will also attempt to examine whether the grass can be utilised in new ways, including its viability to make useful chemicals and architectural materials. The Hutton is also collaborating with leading research groups and industrial collaborator BioAtlantis in a new European research project called “CropPrime”. Supported by up to €1 million EU Horizon funding, CropPrime will develop “molecular priming” technologies, which will enhance crop yield under stressful conditions caused by climate change. One important aspect of the project will be the identification of natural compounds found in “plant biostimulant products” (which trigger natural plant processes that enhance nutrient use efficiency), derived from marine algae such as seaweed, produced by BioAtlantis, based in County Kerry, Ireland. The project will also work on developing RNA (similar to DNA)- based fungicides to reduce fungal infections in crops. The overall goal is to develop sustainable agri-tech products to help crop growers protect and enhance their crops against adverse weather conditions such as drought, heat, cold, and water-logging, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. The Hutton along with its project partners, will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying plant stress and how these relate to the physiological processes that support crop resilience. The project consortium brings together expertise in plant systems biology, chemistry, genetics and biostimulant technology from research institutions in Europe, Africa, and South America. Together with the International Barley Hub (IBH), the Hutton has also won funding from the Arctic Connections Fund for the Raising the Bar project. In partnership with the Innovation Centre for Organic Farming (Denmark) and the Agronomy Institute (UHI Orkney), Raising the Bar will look at how climate warming in Europe has led to northward expansion of crop cultivation into the Arctic regions and could now have a longer growing season with new opportunities for high value local products. The project will bring together a transnational multidisciplinary group to discuss and address challenges and opportunities, while also considering the societal aspects for isolated rural communities. 14 Hutton Highlights
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU0MDE=