Rothamsted

Discover the science of feeding the world! at a molecular level) as well as from their interactions with the environment (e.g. with air, soil, water etc.).
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Established in 1843, our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and bioenergy production. This is delivered through a comprehensive scientific strategy that uses a dynamic and integrated approach to crop science, allowing us to study plants from within (e.g. This strategy is deliv

ered through four interdependent programmes:
• 20:20 Wheat: Increasing wheat productivity to yield 20 tonnes per hectare in 20 years TM Designing seeds
• Designing Seeds: Harnessing our expertise in seed biology and biochemistry to deliver improved health and nutrition through seeds Delivering sustainable systems
• Cropping Carbon: Designing, modelling and assessing sustainable agricultural systems that increase productivity while minimising environmental impact
• Sustainable Systems: Optimising carbon capture by grasslands and perennial energy crops, such as Willow, to help underpin the UK's transition to a low carbon economy

These programmes are underpinned by four national capabilities:
• North Wyke (Devon) Farm Platform: a 250ha experimental farming system where inputs and outputs can be accurately measured in situ.
• The long-term experiments, sample archive and eRA database: running since the mid-19th century and provide a unique experimental system and archive.
• The Insect Survey: operates two national networks for monitoring insect populations in the UK.
• PHI-base: is a database of multiple pathogen-host interactions maintained at Rothamsted Research with considerable input from the international community. Rothamsted Research is truly unique, offering:
• 170 years’ experience of delivering agricultural science and innovation.
• extensive international and multi-sector collaborative networks developed over many years.
• a truly multi-disciplinary workforce, bringing together knowledge from many different fields.
• the ability to combine detailed laboratory studies (using state-of-the-art scientific equipment) with extensive fieldwork (over 700 ha of experimental land) all within a single facility.

27/09/2024

The next Café Scientifique will explore the incredible potential of sesame to improve our health! Join Dr Ange Zoclanclounon at the Harpenden Arms pub on October 15th to learn more 👨‍🔬🍺

26/09/2024

This week saw the 9th Resistance Conference hosted at Rothamsted - with 50% academia, 40% industry & 10% government attending. Many discussions were had about new developments in the field of pesticide resistance, an ever prominent threat to food security globally. A big thank you to all our speakers and the Conference Committee for their hard work 👏

25/09/2024

There's something in the air...and our scientists are investigating every spore 🔍 Using spore-trapping devices, we hope to inform farmers about what's in their fields so they can make informed decisions when harvesting crops and using fungicides.

24/09/2024

What could the future of pest management look like? Instead of shooting insecticides all over the field, Sam Cook suggests lasers instead…
Machine learning could help identify pests and their natural enemies in the field, reducing the use of insecticides. Find out more 📽️

23/09/2024

In celebration of the 9th Resistance Conference at Rothamsted this week, we’re taking a look at the agricultural science of the past, present, and future tackling pesticide use. Did you know that the insecticides you might find in your mosquito repellent and flea treatments were discovered here at Rothamsted? Andrew Farnham explains his role in the development of synthetic pyrethroids…

18/09/2024

HAPPENING TONIGHT at 7pm - come and find us in the The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden pub where scientist Ondrej will share his roughage research...

Anyone is welcome, simply turn up!

18/09/2024

Our upcoming soil webinar is now sold out! But fear not - farmers and farm advisers, you can join us for the in-person event on February 12th at our Harpenden site: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedresearch/1376923

Our researchers will help to answer questions like:
🤔How do regenerative practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops, compost management, or different fertiliser types change your soil?
🤔How can you manage it?
🤔Can these practices revitalise your soil from decades or centuries of compaction and synthetic fertiliser use?
🤔How long will recovery take?

18/09/2024

Just 2 weeks until our Rothamsted Campus Discovery event... Come along and learn more about the innovative research taking place that will affect the future of food and farming - book your free ticket today: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedenterprises/1366133

12/09/2024

We warmly welcome you to Rothamsted to learn and ask questions about the latest research taking place here - book your free ticket today: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedenterprises/1366133

11/09/2024

1 WEEK TO GO until the next Café Scientifique...Join us at the The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden pub on 18th September to learn a bit more about fibre with Dr Ondrej Kosik 🍞👨‍🔬

No need to book, just show up!

11/09/2024

Congratulations to Matt from the farm team for his recent wins at the Redbourn Ploughing match 🚜

Matt has been expertly coached over the last 3 years by Rothamsted’s long standing ploughman, Fred Ledbury. Not only did he win his class and is the Reversible 5 Furrow Champion but also...
🏆Brian Hudgell Memorial Cup for Best General Ploughing
🏆Best work of the day on a John Deere
🏆Nigel Reynolds Memorial Plate for Champion Ploughman of the Day

05/09/2024

Farmer or farm adviser? Join us for a free webinar where our scientists will show how we can support your soil carbon and health needs.

📅13th November, 1-4pm GMT
📍Online, Microsoft Teams

Changing farming practices can change the structure and health of soils, and the amount of carbon held within it. How do regenerative practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops, compost management, or different fertiliser types change your soil? How can you manage it? Can these practices revitalise your soil from decades or centuries of compaction and synthetic fertiliser use? How long will recovery take?

Book your free place here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedresearch/1376692

04/09/2024

The next Café Scientifique will be full of fibre...Join us at the The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden on 18th September to learn a bit more about food and science 🍞👨‍🔬
No need to book, just show up!

02/09/2024

We warmly welcome you to Rothamsted to learn and ask questions about the latest research taking place here - book your free ticket: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedenterprises/1366133

30/08/2024

We have a whole host of fascinating events coming up, perfect for farmers or farm advisers - if you are interested, please contact: [email protected]

29/08/2024

How are scientists creating a MAGIC oilseed r**e population? It doesn’t involve a wand and a top hat… Dr Mollie Langdon explains 📽️

Scientists at Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre are breeding thousands of OSR plants to better understand their genetics – that’s MAGIC (Multi-Parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross). This research will be used to build a community resource of genetic traits which will help inform farmers to grow OSR more sustainably.

23/08/2024

Just 1 month until the Resistance Conference starts! Get your last minute ticket before registration closes on August 31st.

Find the full 3-day programme and get your ticket here: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/event/resistance-2024

Resistance 2024, the 9th in a series of conferences, is brought to you by Rothamsted Research to showcase the latest situational analysis and research on pesticide resistance in the UK and globally.

Sessions will include Molecular Mechanisms and Genomics, Evolution and Selection and Monitoring, Field Studies and IPM, and world-leading experts from academia, industry, and government will share knowledge spanning pesticide resistance in insects, pathogens, and weeds.

22/08/2024

Meet some of the invited speakers at Resistance Conference 2024! We've got a packed 3-day programme full of speakers from all over the world showcasing the latest situational analysis and research on pesticide resistance.

Only 10 days left to get a ticket: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedresearch4/1152212

15/08/2024

👨‍🌾 Why are some farmers reluctant to adopt GHG mitigation measures? New survey sheds some light on why smarter incentives may be needed...

Livestock farmers have expressed a significant unwillingness to adopt greenhouse gas mitigation measures, according to a new UK survey conducted by Rothamsted researchers. Various barriers to adoption were identified, including inflexible land contracts, cost, poor awareness of mitigation measures, non-availability of markets for bioenergy crops and scepticism about the future impacts.

Full story here 👇
https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/new-survey-highlights-multiple-barriers-farm-uptake-climate-change-mitigation-measures

Read the full paper 👇
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306443

14/08/2024

Another intriguing Café Scientifique on the topic of AI and climate change, presented by Dr Joe Gallear. Thank you to all that attended in the Harpenden Arms Pub!

Save the date for next time for 'What you should know and what you probably don't about dietary fibre." with Dr Ondrej Kosik.

📆 18th September, 7pm
📍 The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden

14/08/2024

Ever wondered what a data scientist does? Meet Annalisa, a PhD student analysing millions of data points to improve the way we farm.

"I spend much of my time either coding, reading papers, or writing up my findings. When coding, I often analyse data and present this analysis in visually appealing ways. I enjoy this a lot as it allows me to be creative and come up with innovative solutions. The quantity of data I get to explore enters far into the millions, with hundreds of datasets, containing thousands of data points. This can be daunting but ultimately provides me with what feel likes a never-ending playground to explore and have fun with.

At the moment I am working with some EMI data (basically electrical conductivity measurements), this is a subset of approximately 10,000 data points taken from 0.25m depth. My project aims to improve identification and handling of outliers in Rothamsted's data. This may have applications in the agricultural industry and within the digital twin farm project, as my PhD project develops.

Beyond data analysis, I also get the opportunity to visit conferences and see the world, where I can learn from others and even present my own work. I also enjoy talking to the public and taking part in outreach events, representing Rothamsted as well as the wider community of female scientists in STEM."

Got any questions for Annalisa? Leave us a comment👇

13/08/2024

TONIGHT AT 7PM 👉The potential of AI to transform society is revolutionary - but can it help fight climate change? Join us at The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden to learn something new, ask questions, and discuss with scientist Dr Joe Gallear🍺👨‍🔬

12/08/2024

Happening tomorrow 👉The potential of AI to transform society is revolutionary - but can it help fight climate change? Anyone is welcome to come and learn something new, ask questions, and discuss🍺👨‍🔬

📅13th August, 7pm
📍The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden

06/08/2024

1 week to go until our next Café Scientifique! The potential of AI to transform society is revolutionary - but can it help fight climate change?

Anyone is welcome to come along, learn something new, ask questions, and join in the discussion.

📅13th August, 7pm
📍The Harpenden Arms, Harpenden

https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/events

01/08/2024

New paper: Modern wheat has a diminished beneficial root microbiome - important implications for the transition to low input farming.

Modern wheat varieties grown with inorganic fertiliser show markedly fewer beneficial root bacteria compared to their unfertilised counterparts. In contrast, ancestral wheats show no such reduction, whether fertilised or not. This suggests modern cultivars have been bred to rely on nutritional inputs to maintain yields, a practice which reduces soil health. The study highlights the potential of harnessing beneficial microbes and plant genetics to transition to lower-input farming systems.

Full story: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/modern-wheat-has-diminished-beneficial-root-microbiome

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Videos

What could the future of pest management look like? Instead of shooting insecticides all over the field, Sam Cook suggests lasers instead… Machine learning could help identify pests and their natural enemies in the field, reducing the use of insecticides. Find out more 📽️ #IPM #agriculture #farming

How are scientists creating a MAGIC oilseed rape population? It doesn’t involve a wand and a top hat… Dr Mollie Langdon explains 📽️ Scientists at Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre are breeding thousands of OSR plants to better understand their genetics – that’s MAGIC (Multi-Parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross). This research will be used to build a community resource of genetic traits which will help inform farmers to grow OSR more sustainably. #OSR #agriculture #farming #agronomy #genomics

This #WorldOceanDay, help scientists protect our oceans by completing the short survey on king prawns below🦐👇 https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/kingprawn/2024/05/31/survey-of-king-prawn-consumption-in-the-uk/ The UK Sustainable King Prawn Project is exploring the potential to create a new, environment-friendly, food production sector for warm water king prawn (penaeus vannamei) in the UK. #fishing #sustainability University of Exeter University of Reading

Happening this Saturday at Rothamsted Manor - get your FREE ticket before it's too late! Stroll with our scientists and learn how to spot the signs of tree disease and what's growing on the world's oldest experiment... https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rothamstedresearch2/1215011 #StAlbans #Harpenden #hertfordshire @PlantDay18May #PlantDay

Armed with a special task force of bugs, horticulturalist Jack protects our experiments from pests in the glasshouses 👨‍🌾🦸‍♂️ Can you spot the signs of any of these pests in your own garden? #PlantHealthWeek #horticulture #agriculture #gardening

You've probably admired glorious golden fields of oilseed rape this time of year, but take a closer look and you might see the symptoms of disease... Find our latest research 👉 www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/first-phoma-leaf-spot-resistance-azole-fungicide-found-western-europe #OSR #oilseedrape #phoma #agriculture # farming #PlantHealthWeek

The wheat-pathogenic fungus Zymoseptoria is one of the most rapidly evolving threats to global food security. Like many crop diseases, it can quickly adapt making it resistant to pesticides. Severe epidemics of the disease have decreased wheat yields by up to 50%. 👨‍🔬 Find out more about Dr Jason Rudd and his team's research here: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/probing-weaknesses-wheat-septoria-genomes #agriculture #wheat #septoria # farming #PlantHealthWeek

Take-all disease can decimate second wheat and barley yields. At Rothamsted Research scientists are looking at new sustainable ways to tackle the fungus, including biological control. Find the full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcVlx7R5QZI #PlantHealthWeek #TakeAll #wheat

We're coming to the end of lambing season at our research farm in Devon, a new breed this year called Exlana. Andy and his team have been taking great care of them🐑 #farming #agriculture #lambs

Little lamb Finneas is the smallest ever born at our research farm in Devon! Weighing just 1.4kg at birth, his breed (Ex-Lana) would typically be 4kg. Due to his small stature, Finneas needed a little extra help from our farm team to reach his mum’s teet. Now a week old, he’s staying in the barn a little longer so they can make sure he’s nice and strong before he can frolic in the fields. #lamb #devon #farm

📢Stunning new video images of aphid flight could help shed light on migration patterns A state-of-the-art camera with high frame rates and high resolution has shown the flight dynamics of two aphid species in unmatched detail for the first time. The take-off and free flight of Drepanosiphum platanoidis and Myzus persicae, both common crop pests, were studied in still air using ultra slow-motion, high-speed photography in high definition (HD). The wing tip and body posture were tracked to show how they are displaced during each wingbeat cycle. The unique footage shows that aphids demonstrate a high degree of flight control and manoeuvrability in the lab, occasionally using forward and inverted flight, two aerial modes that are otherwise poorly known. Read the full story: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/upside-down-and-bolt-upright-aphid-aerial-acrobatics-revealed Read the full paper: https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/afe.12623

📢First ever aerial drone survey of fungal spores in Ghana could help protect West Africa's cocoa farmers 🍫 Scientists have carried out a drone-based aerial fungal spore survey in Ghana for the first time. The DNA sequenced results suggest that there is a fairly diverse and uniform spore distribution across the country, and that rapid identification of the fungal pests that plague important commercial crops may be possible. Full story: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/protecting-west-africas-chocolate-one-flyover-time #ghana #agriculture #PlantPathology

Tractor trailer tour ✅PCR gel loading ✅ Petri dish assay ✅Beetle and moth IDs ✅Q+As with PhD students ✅ Last week a group of sixth form students joined us for Experience Rothamsted, an opportunity to learn more about the research we do and the different science careers available! #phdlife #workexperience #scicomm #STEM

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Our Story

We are world-leading, non-profit research centre that focuses on agricultural science to benefit the environment, farmers and society worldwide. Our work addresses food security, malnutrition, poverty, climate change and the environment. Our people are experts in their field and come from all areas of the globe.

We are home to three unique National Capabilities that are open to researchers from all over the world; The Long Term Experiments, Rothamsted Insect Survey, North Wyke Farm Platform for grazing-livestock systems research.

Rothamsted Research is the oldest continually operating agricultural research station in the world. Its foundation dates from 1843 when John Bennet Lawes the owner of the Rothamsted estate appointed Joseph Henry Gilbert, a chemist as his scientific collaborator.