UK wheat farmers apply nitrogen fertiliser that costs billions of pounds each year, but less than 60% of it actually reaches the crop. The rest washes into waterways or escapes as greenhouse gas, wasting money and damaging the environment. This project aims to fix that inefficiency by finding fungi that help wheat roots take up more nitrogen naturally. FA Bio will screen at least 50 fungal strains from their microbial library using machine learning, then test the best candidates in glasshouse and field trials. The goal is a bioproduct that can displace up to 30% of chemical fertiliser without reducing yield. If successful, English cereal growers could cut input costs while shrinking agriculture’s carbon footprint. The project also develops new techniques for imaging root structures in response to bioproducts, giving researchers and breeders a better way to see how plants respond underground. An advisory panel of farmers and agronomists will help ensure the final product works in real fields, not just in controlled trials.
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The UK produces 14Mt of wheat annually (worth £18B), relying on nitrogen (N) fertilizer, though only 40-60% is utilized by crops. This inefficiency leads to environmental damage, rising costs, and regulatory changes, compounded by climate change. Improving N-use efficiency, such as through biologicals that aid uptake, is crucial. FA Bio will screen at least 50 fungi from their microbial library using innovative ML and bioinformatic algorithms. The best candidates will be fermented, formulated, and tested in glasshouse trials to assess their impact on nutrient-use efficiency and crop yield. Top performers will be scaled-up and tested in field trials with a granular formulation. This project brings together expertise in microbial discovery/isolation/culturing and product fermentation/formulation (FA Bio), phenotyping/glasshouse trials/project management/knowledge exchange (UK ATC) and plant root phenomics (UON). Through this project, the partners will deliver: * Bioproduct that increases nitrogen use efficiency of wheat plants, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. * Increasing yields of English cereal growers and reducing agriculture's carbon footprint (up to 30% displacement of chemical fertilizers). * Know-how/protocol development for monitoring root structures in response to bioproducts, including new techniques in the field. * Engagement with farmers/agronomists/stakeholders via advisory panel, and through attendance at industry events
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