The sustainable way forward

Food production will be increasingly impacted by climate change – from the increased frequency of droughts, storms and other extreme weather events.

Food production is in turn a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well as to water scarcity and wider biodiversity issues. Increasing demand for food and pressure on finite resources means more food will need to be produced with less.

R&D investment in sustainable food production is key to finding solutions for a growing global population.

Forage pioneers

Developing progressive and novel varieties will aid farmers in their role as producers and stewards of the land and will support agriculture with practical climate smart solutions.

Research projects

Capturing carbon

Stronger and deeper rooting grasses and clovers

Disease and pest resistance

More resilient grasses and forage legumes

Climate benefits

Drought resistance/flood control

Improved tolerance

Long-term carbon storage

Nutrient efficiency

Grasses with greater yield per unit of Nitrogen applied

Clovers which require less applied phosphate

Climate benefits

Reduction in nitrogen use

Improved water quality

Reducing emissions

Aber High Sugar Grasses

Aber High Lipid Grasses

Climate benefits

Reduction in methane and ammonia

Reduction in methane

Productive homegrown forage

Resilient forage legumes

DoubleRoot hybrid clover

Unique stoloniferous red clovers

Clover species high in tannins

Climate benefits

Pest and disease resistant

Reduction in application of mineral nitrogen

Greater grazing tolerance

Safer animal grazing

Germinal Horizon research sites

Our vision focuses on innovation at a world-leading grassland research centre and translation at Germinal sites to further apply the research and to educate – bridging the gap from lab to field.