Mission statement

Crop Innovations aims to improve food security and nutrition as well as increase farmers' income through research and technology adaptation that will facilitate better use and conservation of our genetic resources.

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At present, much of the world's commercial agriculture is dominated by around thirty plant species, leaving thousands of other edible plants under threat of extinction. Each year, large sums of money are invested in producing better commercial crops but altenative species and varieties used by resource-poor farmers receive little funding for improvement and lack adequate access to markets. Increasing agricultural diversity will raise productivity, create more robust yields and reduce unsustainable environmental impacts. The development of alternative crops is key to the conservation of biological diversity and to improving the lives of farmers that currently grow them. Crop Innovations provides research support to identify and solve problems encountered along crop value chains by:

• Conducting demand-driven research to remove restrictions to efficient crop production
• Adapting scientific technology and methods for use in agricutural or industrial settings
• Providing expertise in problem diagnosis and bespoke solutions
• Creating partnerships in the U.K. and internationally
• Capacity building
• Managing experiments and trials to improve seed traits for farmer and consumer
• Working with stakeholders to ensure usability of end products
• Assisting in finding funding sources and writing applications