Applied research is the prime activity of PGRO and undertaken on a national basis. Most studies are undertaken by PGRO's own team of technical staff whilst others are contracted to appropriate bodies.
The research and development programme for both pulse and vegetable legume crops is reviewed annually by expert representatives from all sides of the industry, with input from PGRO staff.
The work is mainly funded by the crop levies but addition research projects are undertaken with grants from Defra, BBSRC, AHDB-HDC and others.
A number of projects are carried out in conjunction with other research organisations as part of a wider network of work across different crop groups.
Most of the research is undertaken through field trials and experiments and about half of these are conducted on the Organisation's trial ground at Thornhaugh, 8 miles west of Peterborough. The remainder is located in the main production areas to take into account differences in climate and soil types and pest or disease pressure.
