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Have your say - VOTE
We'd like to know what you think is JI's most significant scientific contribution. The Centenary Committee has listed the following five achievements and there is also the opportunity for you to choose an alternative from our other advances (see JIC's key achievements). You can vote online via the voting form at the bottom of this page.
| John Innes Compost | Semi-leafless peas | Wheat semi-dwarfing genes | Advances in cereal breeding | Antibiotic research |
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In the mid 1930's the formulae for the 'John Innes Composts' were developed to provide a sterile, well-balanced growing medium for experimental plant material. These formulae were subsequently released to the public and dominate the compost market in the UK. |
The first registered 'semi-leafless' pea varieties arose out of research and breeding work at the JIC. The improved crop productivity and standing ability led to the use of ‘semi-leafless’ peas worldwide and they account for 100% of current UK dried pea varieties today. |
During the 'Green Revolution' in the 1960s and 70s, world wheat yields almost doubled as a result of the introduction of dwarfed, high-yielding wheat varieties and new cultivation methods resulting from research developed at JIC. |
The establishment of genetic maps of barley, wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and millet, which are ‘road maps’ to desirable traits providing a toolkit for researchers worldwide were developed at JIC. Recent research characterising a gene that controls how chromosomes pair will now enable the introduction of new characters into cereal crops. |
JIC pioneered the genome sequencing of Streptomyces. These soil microbes are the source of most of our antibiotics and other drugs used in human and veterinary medicine including anti-cancer drugs. Building on this ground breaking research JIC is now searching for new antibiotics to combat superbugs such as MRSA and C. difficile. |