Aberystwyth team win top grassland award
The work of the IBERS plant breeders at Aberystwyth University has been recognised with the presentation of the British Grassland Society Innovation Award for the development of high water soluble carbohydrate or what farmers know as ‘high sugar’ varieties. The award was announced at the BGS 10th Research Conference in Belfast on September 21st, where Dr. Athole Marshall, (leader of the Public Good Plant Breeding Group) accepted the trophy from BGS President John Downes. “These new ryegrass varieties have real benefits for farmers,” says John, who is using them on his Shropshire farm. "They are highly palatable, high yielding and have the potential to increase animal performance whilst reducing the nitrogen loss to the environment.” The grasses have been developed by the grass breeding team at IBERS, supported by their colleagues in livestock science and in the Grassland Development Centre, who have demonstrated the benefits of these varieties and encouraged uptake among farmers. ...