Who we are
The University of Cambridge (UCAM) has unrivalled strengths in research and teaching excellence, providing a source of knowledge and skills in the region, with a unique concentration of research expertise in plant processes, including the Department of Plant Sciences, the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Algal Innovation Centre, the Department of Biochemistry, and the Crop Science Centre.
What we do
Broadly, there are five strategic sector themes:
Food Security – Plant pathology, crop protection towards both pathogens and environmental factors, disease resistance and yield improvement
Climate Science and Ecosystem Conservation – Plant molecular, physiological and environmental responses.
Precision Agriculture/Automation – The development of sensors that assess maturity in plants and plant/animal health, and robotic applications for farming (e.g. crop harvesting).
Food systems and sustainable agriculture – Working towards better use of resources (land, water, energy), more efficient supply chains, and minimising environmental impact
Bioenergy – Understanding cell wall biosynthesis and the use of plants and algae for biofuel and solar fuel production.
UCAM places emphasis on interdisciplinary agricultural research being undertaken through Strategic Research Initiatives such as the Global Food Security Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Engineering Biology Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Conservation Research Institute, Centre for Landscape Regeneration, Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits, the Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery and Cambridge Global Challenges. UCAM has an extensive network of industrial interactions both globally and locally, exemplified by the collaborative agri-tech partnership, Ceres.
These are homes to dynamic communities of researchers already addressing crop-related issues, as recognized by support from research councils, government bodies and international agencies.
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How to find out more:
Please email us ([email protected]) with your enquiry, and a member of the team will get in touch with you.
