Prof Giles Oldroyd - Engineering the nitrogen symbiosis for smallholder farmers in Africa
Duration: 55 mins 6 secs
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| Description: |
Western agricultural systems are reliant on the application of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers to greatly enhance yield. However, production and application of nitrogen fertilisers account for a significant proportion of fossil fuel usage in food production and the major source of pollution from agriculture.
Prof Giles Oldroyd studies the mechanisms by which some species of plants are capable of forming beneficial interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which provide a natural source of nitrogen for plant growth. In this lecture, filmed at the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2014 (for 1st year undergraduates from UK universities), Prof Giles Oldroyd discusses the potential to reduce agricultural reliance on nitrogen fertilisers. |
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| Created: | 2015-03-17 16:23 |
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| Collection: | The Gatsby Plant Science Summer School Lecture Collection |
| Publisher: | University of Cambridge |
| Copyright: | Prof Giles Oldroyd |
| Language: | eng (English) |
| Distribution: |
World
(not downloadable)
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| Categories: |
iTunes - Science - Agriculture iTunes - Science - Biology iTunes - Science - Ecology iTunes - Science - Environment |
| Explicit content: | No |
| Aspect Ratio: | 4:3 |
| Screencast: | No |
| Bumper: | UCS Default |
| Trailer: | UCS Default |
| Abstract: | Western agricultural systems are reliant on the application of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers to greatly enhance yield. However, production and application of nitrogen fertilisers account for a significant proportion of fossil fuel usage in food production and the major source of pollution from agriculture.
Prof Giles Oldroyd studies the mechanisms by which some species of plants are capable of forming beneficial interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which provide a natural source of nitrogen for plant growth. A long-term aim of this research is to reduce agricultural reliance on nitrogen fertilisers, and he currently heads an international programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to explore the feasibility of engineering nitrogen-fixing cereals. In this lecture, filmed at the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2014 (for 1st year undergraduates from UK universities), Prof Giles Oldroyd discusses the potential to engineer a symbiotic signalling pathway in cereals in order to transfer the capability to recognise nitrogen-fixing bacteria. |
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