R&D Strategy

1. Improve AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY by delivering YIELD STABILITY and improved QUALITY. Improve understanding and quantification of factors that influence yield and quality:

Plant breeding and genetic improvement
Agronomy
Varietal evaluation
Production continuity
Resource management
Crop protection – pest, disease and weed management
Integrated Pest Management

2. SOIL HEALTH and plant and soil biological interactions greatly influence pulse crops. Improve understanding of factors affecting soil health:

Soil structure
OM content
Microbial populations
Impacts of soil health on pathogens
Management practices to improve soil health
Use of regenerative agriculture techniques for soil health

3. Deliver CROP NUTRITION plans for modern production techniques providing recommendations for optimum performance of UK pulses:

P and K requirements
Trace elements
Root development
Protein content

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE will influence future cropping techniques. Measure impacts of changing environment on legume production and investigate techniques for remediation:

Sustainable systems
Climate impact on pest and disease occurrence
Greenhouse gas emissions
Environmental benefits of legumes in farming systems
Future legume crop alternatives
Irrigation

5. LEGISLATION UPDATES: To provide relevant information that can be used to impact and promote production and consumption. Review crop protection priorities based on changes to pesticide approvals.

Promote production and consumption of legumes
Update on Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS)
Update on impacts of Brexit
Identify and anticipate changes in product registration
Develop new IPM systems for improved crop management

6. KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE: For all priorities identified, disseminate outcomes of work carried out at PGRO, and in collaboration with other organisations and institutes, to provide improved crop production recommendations: