Helping feed the world in future years
By Ellee
Here is one very good reason why we need to promote science in our schools and keep our scientists in Britain - to work on ground-breaking, innovating research projects which will help feed the world’s expanding population in future years by tackling some of the most damaging and widespread pests, diseases and harsh environmental conditions which can devastate crop yields.

Twelve innovative and vital projects have received £7 million funding to do just that from the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council and the Department for International Development, including the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge. I went to the launch last week and promised you an update about the awards. More than 250 proposals were received, and were whittled down to the final dozen.

NIAB will collaborate with the International Rice Research Institute, based in the Philippines for research on rice genetics that will lead to the creation of climate resistant strains of rice for Africa and Asia.

It is vital work. Rice is the staple food for over two billion people, but lack of water and disease limit its production across the developing world. There is an urgent need for new breeds of rice that can cope with changing climatic conditions and to improve food security across the developing world. Food prices are rising globally, and is beginning to cause severe hardship and suffering.