Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs)

Tender description

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: The Authority is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. Further information on the Authority can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs The Authority’s ambition is for the UK to be a world leader in the food and farming industry and to provide a cleaner, healthier environment which benefits people and the economy. Arable farming is a sector with significant potential to contribute towards these objectives; the major UK crops had a production value in 2016 of around £3.7bn. Growing these crops efficiently, productively and for maximum economic gain with minimum environmental impact is a major challenge for farmers and growers in the UK due to pressures arising from pests and diseases (biotic stresses) and meteorological/geophysical conditions (abiotic stresses). Since 2003, the Authority has supported long term pre-breeding programmes; the GINs. The Authority funds four GIN research programmes: • Wheat Genetic Improvement Network (WGIN) • Oilseed Rape Genetic Improvement Network (OREGIN) • Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN) • Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network (PCGIN) The Authority is seeking to build upon the previous GIN research programmes to deliver new wheat, oilseed rape, pulse crop and vegetable varieties with enhanced resilience to biotic and abiotic stress, improved nutrient use efficiency and other yield/quality determinants.