Farmers and consumers around the world are connected and dependent on each other today in a way that is unprecedented in human history - the average chocolate bar will have ingredients from four or more continents and crop failures in Russia affect the price of bread in the US.
Transnational research collaboration between the US and UK is anticipating and protecting our food supplies from a host of new disease threats to crops, animals and humans and which show no respect for international borders.
Professor Massimo Palmarini, Director of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research will discuss:
Professor Alison Power, Cornell University, will talk about Potato virus Y:
Professor Helen Sang, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, will present research on:
The researchers are all funded through a joint programme from BBSRC (UK) and USDA-NIFA (USA).
Professor Jackie Hunter, BBSRC Chief Executive, said: "The global nature of today's agricultural systems means it's essential that the UK collaborates with countries like the US so we can better protect our food system from emerging threats"
Sonny Ramaswamy, Director of NIFA, said: "Human health depends on the safety, security, and quality of the food we produce. Emerging pathogens have no boundaries, and therefore international partnerships such as NIFA's with the BBSRC are critically important for mitigating the impacts of pathogens on the global food supply."
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, BBSRC invested over £509M in world-class bioscience in 2014-15. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes
About NIFA
The US Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.
Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA's integrated research, education, and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel, have resulted in user-inspired, ground-breaking discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability, and ensuring food safety.
For more information about NIFA, our science and our impact see: http://nifa.usda.gov/