£2.8m UKRI Fellowship to Develop Drought-Resilient, Water-Efficient Maize

Researchers at the University of Essex have secured £2.8 million through a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship to develop high-yielding maize varieties that use less water and are better adapted to drought.

Led by Dr John Ferguson, the four-year SMART Maize project will place stomatal physiology at the centre of crop improvement. Stomata are microscopic pores on leaves that regulate carbon dioxide uptake and water loss. By identifying and manipulating the genes controlling stomatal development, the project aims to develop maize hybrids with improved water-use efficiency without compromising photosynthesis or yield.

Combining quantitative genetics, advanced plant phenotyping, molecular-assisted breeding and gene editing, the research will translate fundamental discoveries into practical crop improvement strategies.

Working with international partners, including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), the project will evaluate promising maize varieties under field conditions, with particular emphasis on drought-prone regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The research aims to demonstrate how physiology-led breeding can contribute to more resilient agricultural systems and global food security.

Read more: https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2026/09/24/scientist-secures-funding-to-boost-maize-yields-as-climate-change-bites

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