News

The Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) research project enters a new phase with the University of Cambridge and Aarhus University at the helm driving innovation for sustainable agriculture.ENSA – an international research programme using symbiotic associations with nitrogen fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to sustaina…

A recent review led by Dr Alison Scott-Brown from the Epidemiology and Modelling group, University of Cambridge, explores how farmland trees and shrubs can contribute to integrated pest management – potentially helping farmers reduce the impact of chemical use while boosting biodiversity.The study considers how a wide range of ecological and landsc…

A global research team co-led by the University of Cambridge’s Crop Science Centre (CSC) is unlocking the potential of Bambara groundnut in a pioneering project to combat food insecurity and climate change.Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is a crop with huge potential to address global food and nutrition security challenges. It thrives in poor…

2025 marks 200 years since John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861) became Professor of Botany and went on to revitalise the study of plants at the University of Cambridge.He was elected fourth Professor of Botany in 1825, taking an oath before the Vice Chancellor as 'King's Reader in Botany' on 10 October that year. He held the position for 36 years until…

The Crop Science Centre (CSC) International Partnerships event 2025 brought together partners and collaborators from around the world to celebrate scientific progress and explore the challenges and opportunities of translating discovery science into impact in the field.The event took place on 2-3 October 2025 at the Møller Institute, Churchill Coll…

Extreme weather events, from heavy rainfall to heatwaves and droughts, are increasingly threatening crop yields globally, so new solutions are needed for agriculture.An international team from the University of Cambridge, University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia and NASA have reimagined how we grow food into the future.The paper was …

Average tree size across the Amazon has increased by 3.2% every decade consistent with a response to rising carbon dioxide levels, a new study suggests. The study, co-led by Dr Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, incoming Associate Professor of Ecology at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, found that big trees are increasing in size …

Studying Plant Sciences at Cambridge can open up a wealth of career opportunities. In this series, we hear from Plant Sciences alumni about their experiences of studying here, how it shaped their careers and what they are doing now. If you would like your alumni story featured, please email us at alumni@plantsci.cam.ac.uk.About BelindaBelinda Clark…

A new project, co-led by Dr Renata Retkute from the Department of Plant Sciences’ Epidemiology and Modelling group, aims to safeguard banana and plantain production in East and West Africa by reducing crop losses caused by banana bunchy top virus (BBTV).The research will provide key insights to help reduce the spread of BBTV, one of Africa’s most d…

In the largest ever survey of rainforest birdlife, scientists have discovered that deforestation to create pastureland in Colombia is causing around 60% more damage to biodiversity than previously estimated.Researchers have conducted the world’s biggest ever bird survey, recording 971 different species living in forests and cattle pastures across t…

This year’s Plants @ Cambridge Botanicon took place at St John's College on Friday 4 July. The event was organised by, and brought together, early-career researchers from across the plant biology network in Cambridge.The event involved a range of activities, including short talks, poster sessions and hot techniques workshops, allowing early-career …

Julian Hibberd, Professor of Photosynthesis and Head of the University of Cambridge Department of Plant Sciences joins the community of over 2,100 leading life scientists today as the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) announces its newest members.He is among 69 scientists from across Europe and beyond that have been elected to the EMBO…

Dr Min-Yao Jhu, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Sustainable Crop Nutrition group at the Crop Science Centre (CSC), has published a review exploring how plants adaptively reuse core developmental pathways to build highly specialised organs during both mutualistic and parasitic interactions.The review, 'From hosts to parasites: hormones drivin…

University of Cambridge Library and Archives staff have brought to light a handwritten and illustrated thesis by the famous Bloomsbury artist Roger Fry in the Department of Plant Sciences archives.Roger Fry graduated from King’s College Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences in 1888 before travelling to Italy and France to study art and eventu…

Studying Plant Sciences at Cambridge can open up a wealth of career opportunities. In this series, we hear from Plant Sciences alumni about their experiences of studying here, how it shaped their careers and what they are doing now. If you would like your alumni story featured, please email us at alumni@plantsci.cam.ac.uk.Dr Greg Reeves may now be …