We are delighted to announce that the journal ‘Plant Pathology’ has awarded the Best Student Paper prize for 2020 to Ines Vazquez-Iglesias from Fera Science Ltd. Read more
A recent amendment to the UK Agricultural Bill, tabled by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture and backed by a cohort of leading UK research institutes, proposed the acceptance of gene edited (GE) crops and livestock in UK agriculture – ultimately in UK produced food. Read more
In recent years, the media has highlighted multiple examples of food being contaminated by what we call ‘food contact materials’ (FCMs). This definition includes packaging or any materials that can come into contact with food during its life cycle. Examples of contamination include bisphenol A and phthalates from plastic packaging and containers, primary aromatic amines from nylon kitchenware and formaldehyde from melamine kitchenware. Read more
Fera has been at the forefront of raising awareness on the frailty of African plant health and biosecurity and the gains to be achieved in building national capacity. Read more
Grapevines can be affected by one or more GTDs at the same time, for example two of the common diseases on young vines (less than five years old) known as Petri Disease and Black foot can both result in overall stunting, delayed bud break, shortened internodes, yellowing or chlorotic foliage with brown or necrotic margins and wilting of leaves or entire shoots. Read more
During July and August 2020 UK plant health authorities became aware through social media of members of the public in the UK receiving packets of seed which had not been ordered by them. Read more
The SFN recently hosted a virtual sandpit. During the event, Sandpit participants develop ideas for collaborative projects in response to food-related challenges and present their proposals to each other. Read more
Mass spectrometry (MS) in many different formats has been an essential tool for chemical and biological analysis for over 100 years, enabling vital breakthrough discoveries in fields ranging from nuclear research through to identifying novel biomarkers of cancer. Read more
Contaminants and metals can occur naturally or as a result of human intervention. Whilst metals are part of our every-day life and some can even play an essential part to our health and well-being the same cannot be said for contaminants. Read more
What happens when you combine a world class agri-food lab, an internationally recognised kitemark and Scottish honey - a Scottish honey set to take on its global rivals. Read more