Rothamsted

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.).

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.

After 44 years at Rothamsted, our Director Angela Karp leaves for a well-earned retirement. Not before a trip down memor...
25/06/2025

After 44 years at Rothamsted, our Director Angela Karp leaves for a well-earned retirement. Not before a trip down memory lane, 1950s to present day, and a delicious cream tea though! A huge thank you to Angela for all she’s contributed to our institute.

As part of Soapbox Science MK last Saturday, scientists took over centre:MK to teach passers-by about their research. Ta...
24/06/2025

As part of Soapbox Science MK last Saturday, scientists took over centre:MK to teach passers-by about their research. Tash Brock did an amazing job answering questions on gene-editing for healthier toast!

23/06/2025
Stop by Soapbox Science at centre:mk this Saturday and learn a bit of science - including about gene-edited bread with T...
20/06/2025

Stop by Soapbox Science at centre:mk this Saturday and learn a bit of science - including about gene-edited bread with Tash Brock!

19/06/2025

Now is the time to check your blackgrass populations and decide a plan of action... But with growing resistance to herbicides - how can we continue to tackle this growing threat to crops? Dana Macgregor explains how her research could help 📽️

Join Dana at our next Café Scientifique talk to explore why weeds always seem to win, and what we can do to stop them: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/event/cafe-scientifique-why-are-there-always-weeds

Don't miss tomorrow 12-1pm - free webinar from British Society of Soil Science on Regenerative Farming with Prof. Jonath...
18/06/2025

Don't miss tomorrow 12-1pm - free webinar from British Society of Soil Science on Regenerative Farming with Prof. Jonathan Storkey, agroecologist at Rothamsted Research, and Dr Jenny Bussell, Principal Scientist at The Allerton Project.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8880875712091725662

17/06/2025

You can't do agricultural research without agricultural data - find out how data scientist Annalisa uses it to help farmers👇

A great pleasure to welcome Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Robbie Moore MP to our plot at Cereals...
13/06/2025

A great pleasure to welcome Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Robbie Moore MP to our plot at Cereals Event 2025 this week. Lots to talk about on wheat breeding with Prof Malcolm Hawkesford and soil health with the amazing soil marble run from Amalgam Modelmaking with Dr Jonah Prout

12/06/2025

There's a new long term experiment in town...The Large Scale Rotation Experiment is designed to build the evidence for "what works" in regenerative farming. Hear from Jonah Prout about why soil carbon is crucial to successful farming 📽️
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuD0h4ldw2M

Learn more about what data science is and how it can improve the way we farm at the next Café Scientifique! Free to atte...
10/06/2025

Learn more about what data science is and how it can improve the way we farm at the next Café Scientifique! Free to attend and open to anyone, come along and find out more about your local science research centre.

10/06/2025

If you're attending Cereals this week, we'd love to chat to you about our latest agricultural research! Visit us at stand 1150 🧑‍🔬

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West Common
Harpenden
AL52JQ

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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.