John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre (JIC) is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science and microbiology, strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and supported by the John Innes Foundation.

JIC scientists conduct innovative research in plant science and microbiology, investigating fundamental processes. The mission is to generate knowledge and innovation through research to benefit agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being.

JIC uses genetics and genomics-base strategies for crop improvement with a focus on yield, quality, resilience and disease and pest resistance. JIC works at the forefront of biologics, resolving the interactions between plants and beneficial microbes. JIC research generates fundamental knowledge which can be translated into improved varieties and microbes to deliver practical agricultural solutions through collaboration with commercial partners.

JIC, jointly with the Sainsbury Laboratory also situated on the Norwich Research Park, is ranked first in the world (Thompson Reuters 2010) for scientific impact in the field of plant and animal research with seven of the top 1% of highly cited plant and animal science scientists in the world (from www.highlycited.com).

For more information contact Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development, jonathan.clarke@jic.ac.uk, +44(0)1603 4508402

Member's Area/s of Interest

Research

I’ve never been so challenged! Agri-TechE’s community ensure that you are always re-evaluating your preconceptions and reassessing the relevance of your research findings to industry needs.

For the John Innes Centre, Agri-Tech East has opened a window to the needs of companies across the agricultural supply chain. It helps us to refine the projects that move our research findings towards their deployment in agricultural practice. We find new commercial partnerships and discover the unseen wealth of on-farm and post farm gate innovation.

Through our engagement with the GROW business plan competition we identified a new opportunity for our pea research programme which led to the formation of new a joint venture company. The venture creates a route to market for our innovation in pea flours and extracts.

Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development, John Innes Centre

Flea beetle fight gets fresh funding injection

Researchers at the John Innes Centre and Rothamstead Research working to combat a devastating pest of oilseed rape have been supported by a fresh injection of funds thanks to the £1.8m BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award.

Research institutes launch innovative collaboration to combat crop disease

An ambitious collaboration between the John Innes Centre and the University of Hertfordshire will fast track urgently needed solutions to the growing problem of crop diseases. The innovative project, launched on Thursday 1 July, combines the expertise in Light Leaf Spot pathology at the University of Hertfordshire with oilseed rape genomic technology at the John Innes Centre. Announcing the BBSRC-funded project Dr Chris Ridout from the John Innes Centre said: “Our project develops a strategy to accelerate deployment of disease resistance and other traits into crops.

Directors' Blog: Why a mixed economy is essential to address the big questions in plant and microbial sciences

It is only through combining scientific excellence with strategic relevance that we can truly address the major societal and environmental challenges that lie ahead. In order to help solve some of the challenges facing the world, such as climate change and food security, we need to translate some of our findings into tangible advances.

Yellow rust turns off genes in wheat during its attack

Researchers from John Innes Centre have found that deleting a gene in wheat helps to promote greater resistance to attack from yellow and stem rust.

Sweet success for sugar beet research bid

A leading John Innes Centre researcher and colleagues have been awarded European funding to develop innovative molecular solutions to combat a damaging sugar beet virus.

Oilseed rape research challenges previous thinking on flowering time

Research has shed new light on the molecular mechanisms that allow crops to synchronise flowering with favourable conditions. The research on varieties of oilseed rape suggests that in future crops could be better designed to flower at climatically opportune times. In this collaborative study, researchers at the John Innes Centre and and the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University used computational modelling to show that it is not individual FLC copies that determine crop type but a combined effect of their related dynamics.

Crops and non-chemical pest control – genetics, environment and biodiversity - Agri-Tech Week 2020

The Norwich Research Park Agri-Tech Week 2020 event explored how harnessing beneficial insects and understanding relationships between microbes becomes increasingly important in the search for non-chemical pest control. Scientists from the John Innes Centre, UEA and the Earlham Institute shared their research.

Wrinkled ‘super pea’ could be added to foods to reduce diabetes risk

A type of wrinkled ‘super pea’ may help control blood sugar levels and could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, suggests a new study.

Boost for smart green farming innovation

Dr Pawel Mikulski, a postdoctoral researcher at the John Innes Centre, reached the finals of the GROW Agri-Tech Business Plan Competition, held by Agri-TechE and sponsored by Innovate UK.

Agri-tech innovation and working with industry; Introducing Dr Simon Aspland

"I’ve only been here a few months, but already I have seen first-hand how many different interests, relationships, approaches and opportunities there are to bring cutting-edge scientific research and industry together here. The potential I am finding around every corner and in every lab is exciting."

Wheat success for early career researcher

A John Innes Centre student has received international recognition for her outstanding contribution to wheat research. Anna Backhaus, a PhD rotation student, is one of five leading young scientists worldwide selected to receive a Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum (WIT) award for 2020.