Aberystwyth University has received a £500,000 grant from the UK government to study the role of artificial intelligence in crop breeding.
Led by scientists at the Institute for Bioenvironmental and Rural Sciences, this project explores how AI can select the best pampas grass varieties to tackle climate change.
The research is part of a broad multi-million pound investment to develop credible artificial intelligence research announced by the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Chloe Smith.
Pampas grass is a plant with straw-like stems that grows up to four meters tall per year. It is harvested in the spring and grows again from the overwintered rhizomes to produce an annual crop.
It grows well on land that is not very suitable for food crops, and the harvested crops are usually used as bioenergy for heat and electricity. It also has a wide range of other uses, such as construction materials, green manufacturing, and animal bedding in animal husbandry.
Professor John Doonan of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University said: This underscores the importance of our research here at Aberystwyth not only locally, but nationally and internationally.
Pampas grass in the fields of Aberystwyth University (Aberystwyth University )
“The UK and the world need to reduce their CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change, so they must harness green technology to develop their economies rather than relying on fossil fuels. Harnessing intelligence to breed new bioenergy crops will be a key part of the answer.”
UK Technical Secretary Chloe Smith said: “Despite being a small island nation, the UK is a tech powerhouse. and is the third largest in the world after the United States and China.
“But the technology landscape is constantly evolving, and we need a technology ecosystem that can adapt to that change, capitalize on its opportunities, and meet new challenges. [14 June] I will do just that.
“We are investing in our AI talent pipeline with a £54m package to develop trustworthy and secure artificial intelligence and do our best to be a global leader in technology now and in the years to come.”
Professor Dame Ottoline Reiser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) said: “UKRI invests in people and technology that improve the lives of people in the UK and around the world. , laying a solid foundation on which to build the service.
“Through cross-sectoral partnerships, we will ensure that responsible innovation is integrated into all aspects of our work as it progresses.”
The Aberystwyth University-led project, funded by the UK government, also includes academics from the Universities of Lincoln and Southampton.
