As multiple altruistic businesses sought to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic by diverting workforces to produce hand sanitisers concerns have been raised about the effectiveness but more alarmingly the safety of some of these products.
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In a bid to mitigate associated health risks and to reduce children’s exposure to harmful contaminants, the European Commission imposed a maximum limit for inorganic arsenic concentrations for manufacturers to comply with.
Following recent testing on multiple rice varieties sold in the UK, researchers have found that half of the rice samples in the study exceeded the maximum arsenic limits for young children.
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When consumers are asked about contaminant risks in food, the usual concerns focus on microbes, pesticides or heavy metals such as lead. Plant toxins would probably not feature. After all, plant products are natural, so they must be healthy, right?
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A Scottish honey is set to take on its global rivals after being revealed as a world-leading superfood in a recent scientific study. The Scottish Bee Company’s heather honey contains up to 10 times more of the essential micronutrient, manganese, compared to 200 of its global rivals. This unique Scottish honey is also amongst the world’s top manganese containing food products.
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Since the environmental DNA proficiency test scheme was introduced in 2017, Fera have participated in each of the rounds and this year scored another perfect result. All 10 blind samples, which included positive, negative and inhibited results, were correctly identified.
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Supply chains are constantly evolving to deliver and adapt to the ever-changing needs and wants of their customers and consumers. This evolution could be the widespread adoption of practices which increase the resilience of the underpinning farm systems, or address supply chain profitability through the adoption of data driven tools, or the fast-tracking of new products and services to gain competitive advantage.
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Join us at the AICC Annual Conference 2020
Antonia Walker, Plant Clinic Sales Manager, will be on hand at this year’s conference to discuss your crop health requirements and how we can help minimise yield loss, maximise margins and improve quality. So, if you are attending this year then be sure to come and see us.
See how we can help you...
Crop Testing
We are world renowned for providing excellence in crop testing and diagnostic services offering the most comprehensive range of services throughout all sectors of the supply chain. Our leading expertise and outstanding facilities can help you understand and identify your agricultural challenges; helping you to deliver more economically and environmentally resilient farming solutions for the sustainable intensification of arable systems. Our crop testing includes:
• Potatoes and field vegetables
• Arable Crops
• Soft Fruit
• Seeds
Nematology Testing
Nematodes are microscopic pests responsible for billions of pounds of yield loss each year. Potatoes Cyst Nematodes (PCN) are considered the most damaging pest of potato crops in the UK with losses up to 35%. However, Plant-Parasitic Nematodes (PPNs) can be just as damaging as they can parasitize nearly every plant species, resulting in devastating adverse effects on the quality and yield of host crops.
Fera offers a unique free-living nematode analysis service that provides identification to species level as well as nematode identification and consultancy advice for any sector of agriculture or horticulture.
Soil Health
We are helping farmers and industry to understand how different soil properties influence the development and spread of pests and diseases. We help by developing more effective soil-management strategies to mitigate these risks.
We help to:
• Improve soil-management practices to combat crop pests and diseases
• Understand pesticide behaviour in different soil conditions
• Develop more effective control measures for different soil types
• Undertake tests for soil health, pathogens and diseases
• Indicator Species - Species are identified as natural indicators when their presence or abundance, within sites of a particular habitat or a conservation area are high
• Microbial Loads - Testing of microbial loads provides the ability to identify levels of micro-organisms within a sample
Insect Monitoring
Our team of world leading entomologists offer multidisciplinary expertise in terms of design and management of insect monitoring schemes. This ensures your crop management strategy is fit for purpose and is able to address any potential viruses within your crop, mitigating the potential economic risk to your harvest. We also use applied entomological research into virus transmission in glasshouse and field plots, together with research into the physiology and behaviour of disease vectors using laboratory behaviour tests and electro-penetration graphs (to measure feeding behaviour). With our service you can monitor and forecast the spread of pests, weeds and diseases in real time; combining chemical, and agronomic strategies for smarter crop protection.
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Since joining Fera Science as Senior Plant Bacteriologist at the beginning of November, Dr Joana Vicente has been managing and working towards delivering a range of R&D projects on plant pathogenic bacteria and soil biological diversity.
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Achieving your PhD with Fera will provide you with a real insight in scientific research from the industry perspective. The opportunity will provide you with access to some of the best equipment and experienced expertise. Fera is a fantastic working environment to develop your PhD and for starting your research career. Don't just take our word for it, hear what our students have to say.
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PhD studentships at Fera are a fantastic opportunity if you are ambitious, eager for a challenge and want to push yourself to new heights with a career in industry. They provide the opportunity to gain the skills and the confidence you need to progress within in your career.
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