In this series we talk to Cambridge scientists working with industry, business, NGO and other partners using cutting-edge research to help solve real-world problems.
Lottie Apsey is a Plant Sciences PhD student at the University of Cambridge, working with the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) to explore the role of wildflower margins in attracting pollinators into crop fields.
She shares how her project is bridging the gap between science and farming to help growers choose bean varieties and manage habitats that stabilise and improve broad bean yields.
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About Lottie
Charlotte (Lottie) Apsey is a 3rd year PhD student in the Evolution and Development group at the Department of Plant Sciences, Cambridge.
Her research focuses on optimising the pollination of broad bean (Vicia faba), also known as fava bean, to enhance both yield and seed quality and make this a more attractive crop for UK farmers.
A major part of her PhD is working with the UK Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) to assess the impact of wildflower margins on crop fields. The aim is to understand if wildflowers encourage a beneficial ‘spillover’ of pollinators into crop fields or have a negative effect by inadvertently drawing them away from the beans.
Her work combines lab-based chemistry and genetics with large-scale field trials, bridging fundamental science and practical agricultural solutions.
Alongside her field work, she is studying how floral traits influence bee behaviour, and which broad bean scents or petal colours bees prefer.
Lottie is the third researcher from Cambridge to work with PGRO on this project, following previous students who investigated floral traits like spot size and the physical force required for bees to open the flowers.
What real-world problem are you tackling together?
The fava bean is an important crop for food security. It is a high-protein source used for both animal feed and human consumption, and significantly, it is a crop we can grow here in the UK. However, it suffers from a major drawback: yield instability. Because it is affected by climate change and fluctuating weather patterns, many farmers view it as an unreliable option. My work with PGRO is focused on finding ways to improve pollination to make these yields more stable and dependable for the industry.
A major part of this work involves looking at wildflower margins. Currently, the UK government incentivises farmers to plant these margins to support biodiversity, but there have been concerns that these ‘buffets’ of wildflowers might distract bees away from the bean crops. PGRO and I are investigating whether these margins create a spillover effect, drawing more bees into the general area to the benefit of the crop, or if they are a distraction reducing the number of pollinators visiting the crop.
Another potential benefit is that because broad beans are a mass-flowering crop, there is a potential for a virtuous cycle – better pollination leads to better yields, which encourages farmers to plant more, providing more food for our declining pollinator populations.
What do you find the most rewarding about this work?
I chose this PhD because the real-world applications were so clear; you can immediately see how it supports global challenges to do with food security and pollinator decline.
On a personal level, the variety of work is also incredibly rewarding. One day I might be out in a field counting bees, and the next I am in the lab performing experiments to see if bees can distinguish between differences in floral scent or colour and what their flower preferences are. I get to dive into the chemistry of floral scents and the genetics of different bean varieties, yet I can see how it all fits together into the bigger picture.
I have also found a surprising amount of satisfaction in the logistical side of the research. I manage a group of volunteers who help me count bees for three weeks every summer. Recruiting people, liaising with wildlife groups and schools, and teaching them about bee behaviour was initially very stressful, but it has been fantastic for my confidence. Seeing people get excited about the research while helping me collect vital data is a highlight of my work.
What’s the best part of teaming up with PGRO?
PGRO provides a vital link between my research and the farming community. I could not achieve field trials on this scale without their help.
When you’re doing lab work it’s easy to lose sight of how your research affects the people on the ground. Being able to speak to farmers through PGRO has helped me understand the issues that are key to them and make my work relevant to what they want and need to know.
PGRO has been instrumental in setting up my wildflower field trials, bringing decades of experience and a network of contacts that my lab simply doesn't have, and helping me navigate the complexities of setting up trials on working farms, which is a massive undertaking.
In return, I am providing them with useful data they need to advise their members. I’ve been presenting my findings at conferences for them and am currently writing an article for their magazine. So that the science doesn't just sit in a thesis but reaches the industry too.
What has this partnership taught you that you couldn't learn in a lab?
This partnership has been a massive learning curve regarding the sheer complexity of farming. In a lab, you try to control every variable, but in a real-life field trial, that’s impossible.
I’ve learned a lot about the practical constraints farmers face, such as crop rotations and the timing of drilling. For instance, you can’t just put a wildflower margin anywhere; you have to plan it months in advance and consider how it will affect the field for years to come. I’ve had to account for things I’d never considered, like how soil types can change across a single field and affect crop performance.
Communication has been another huge lesson. Working with PGRO has taught me how to be a bridge between high-level research and farmers who need practical, clear information. Writing reports for my host farmers has been a highlight, showing them exactly what was happening on their land during the trials.
It’s really interesting to do extra things like that, which I wouldn’t get to do if it was a fully lab-based PhD, and I like to think I’m more employable because of all the skills this collaboration has brought into my work.
What’s the next step for this project?
I’m about to start my third year of field trials, which is an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking stage. This year’s data will be the final piece of the puzzle for the wildflower portion of my PhD.
So far, the results are encouraging: we are seeing a positive ‘spillover’ effect where pollinator visitation is higher near the wildflower margins, though this effect seems to taper off about 30 metres into the crop.
Once this season is over, I will move into a year of intensive data analysis and writing. I’ll be looking closely at the yield data to see if the increased bee activity translated into more beans in the harvest. My goal is to provide PGRO with the evidence they need to give farmers advice on wildflower placement and bean variety selection. We are just scratching the surface - there are still so many questions about the best distances for margins and the best wildflower mixes - but I hope my work will provide a solid foundation for more stable and pollinator-friendly bean yields in the UK.
Image: Plant Sciences PhD student, Lottie Apsey, setting up plots in a bean field as part of her field trials.