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John Innes Centre

John Innes Centre at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and Cereals 2006

16 June 2006

Contact:
Dr Vicky Just: +44 (0)1603 255111
JIC Press Office and Out of hours: +44 (0)1603 450000

Scientists from the John Innes Centre (JIC) [1] will be at the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s annual Cereals event being held this year at Nocton, Lincs on 14/15 June, talking to farmers and breeders, and at the NEC, Birmingham hosting a plant health clinic for show goers at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Show, 14-18 June.

Cereals 2006 [2] is Europe’s, premier arable event of the year. Whatever the connection to the arable industry it provides a forum for discussion and sharing practical advice amongst the 22,000 who attend. The UK’s arable industry is facing one of its most challenging periods and many stands, including JICs, are focusing on new opportunities in agriculture, with themes and plans to support new ventures and technologies. The JIC stand (No. 308) will be demonstrating a Sustainable Arable Link Programme on the potential to maximize harvest index in oil seed rape, the Wheat Genetics Improvement Network (WGIN) at JIC and examples of other research at JIC that provides a vital pipeline to plant breeders.

“Cereals 2006 will provide the perfect opportunity for us to talk to our primary stakeholders” said Professor Chris Lamb, JIC Director, who will be attending the first day of this years show.

At BBC Gardeners’ World Live [3], the Entomology team led by Dr Ian Bedford, will be presenting an insect display which incorporates a Plant Pest & Disease clinic and has won a Highly Commended Award in the Educational category. Visitors can bring along samples and specimens for identification, and the team will provide advice on controlling problems using environmentally safer options. Live common pests as well as some of the more topical ‘invasive’ species will provide visitors with a ‘hands-on’ experience. The exhibit will also feature exotic species that demonstrate camouflage, predation and how certain insects are being used to benefit agriculture. The show attracts over 125,000 visitors and is held in association with The Royal Horticultural Society.

Ian Bedford said “It is the garden show created for gardeners by gardeners and JIC is delighted to be invited to participate in this year’s event after a show winning first appearance last year.”

Notes for Editors

  1. The JIC, Norwich, UK is an independent, world-leading research centre in plant and microbial sciences with over 800 staff. JIC carries out high quality fundamental, strategic and applied research to understand how plants and microbes work at the molecular, cellular and genetic levels. The JIC also trains scientists and students, collaborates with many other research laboratories and communicates its science to end-users and the general public. The JIC is grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.


  2. Cereals 2006.

  3. BBC Gardeners’ World Live.