Rothamsted Research

Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

Its mission is to deliver knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production.

No single approach can deliver sustainable agriculture with high productivity and value. A broad perspective that encompasses the whole plant system is needed and a careful balance of approaches is required. Rothamsted integrates biotechnology with other areas of science such as agronomy and agro-ecology so both existing and new knowledge can be implemented through agricultural practice.

Its strength therefore lies in an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

Find them on Twitter at @Rothamsted.

Member's Area/s of Interest

Research

Rothamsted Research Yearbook 2019

Welcome to our review of 2019, a year where climate concerns, international politics and demographics collided, with the fallout sending shockwaves through the entire food and farming sector.

Campaign to find world’s longest running agricultural experiments

Results from long-running agricultural experiments are being made openly available to other scientists to support greater collaboration between projects. The Global Long-Term Agricultural Experiment Network (GLTEN), based at Rothamsted Research, and funded by the Thirty Percy Foundation brings together long-running experiments that span nearly two centuries and six continents, as well as representing numerous climates, environments, crop types, farming practices and land-management regimes.

Rothamsted study looking to harvest combine data to tackle field-edge yield declines

Study links biodiversity found just beyond the field with variations in yield. Rothamsted scientists are assessing whether flower-rich margins, hedgerows or tree lines are helping improve yield and asking farmers to help by sending them GPS data collected at harvest.

Gene boost in battle against black-grass

A new method, enabling the genetic alteration of Black-grass to understand how herbicide resistance develops, has been described as ‘game changing’ by the lead scientist, Dr Dana MacGregor of Rothamsted Research.

VIDEO: Healthier bread with science!

It might be the best thing to happen to bread since, well, sliced bread. An international group of scientists led by Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre have opened the door to healthier white bread, after they pinpointed genes responsible for the dietary fibre content of flour.

VIDEO: Farm Lab adds 'High tech sheep shed'

A new high-tech ‘sheep shed’ has been unveiled which will allow Rothamsted researchers to monitor the impacts of livestock in real-world farming systems. It will help scientists study different ways of rearing and producing lamb – and examine whether a switch away from red meat is good for the environment in the UK.

WLTM: 176-year-old seeking significant other for long term…experiment

These ‘lonely hearts’ would like to meet other researchers who run long-term agricultural experiments with 'vital statistics' that complement their own. “This is more about ploughing the field than playing it.”

Opportunity Zone: Global Long Term Experiment Network Coordinator

Rothamsted Research is famous for its Long Term Experiments and we are looking for a post-doctoral scientist who is interested in sustainable agricultural science to work on a new initiative to integrate the Rothamsted experiments with similar trials across the world.

Exciting internship opportunity!

Head over to our Opportunity Zone to find out more about the exciting internship opportunity currently being offered by Rothamsted Research.

Agri-Tech Week 2019: Developing to inspire

New sources of funding and the opportunities for collaborative research were among the themes discussed at the Agri-Tech Week event hosted by Rothamsted Research in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire and supported by the Green Triangle.