24
06
2025
The team recently conducted a field visit to Balruddery Farm, a key research site operated by the James Hutton Institute near Dundee, Scotland.
Balruddery Farm serves as an essential link between laboratory research and practical agriculture. It provides a controlled yet realistic environment where innovative barley lines developed under BEST-CROP are grown and assessed under field conditions. The visit offered our researchers the opportunity to monitor crop performance, discuss ongoing trials, and plan the next phases of experimentation.
We look forward to sharing more updates as the growing season progresses and results from the field trials become available.
23/24
06
2025
The BEST-CROP consortium successfully wrapped up its second annual project meeting at The James Hutton Institute in Dundee, Scotland. Over two days, partners shared interdisciplinary updates and scientific progress focused on developing innovative barley varieties that are more productive, resilient, and sustainable in the face of environmental challenges.
Special thanks go to our hosts in Dundee for their hospitality, engaging discussions, and the spirited atmosphere that fuelled inspiring ideas.
The consortium now looks forward to gathering for the next annual meeting at Lund University.
4/5
02
2025
Hosted by the James Hutton Institute, following the BEST CROP consortium meeting was held the Barley Genome Net. An international event which provided a platform for in-depth discussions on crop research advancements, field trials, and networking.
Alongside strategic planning sessions, the meeting featured interactive workshops and knowledge exchange opportunities, reinforcing BEST CROP's commitment to innovation in the circular bioeconomy.
3/4
02
2025
The BEST-CROP project consortium gathered on the 3rd and 4th of February in Dundee, Scotland, for the 18-month project meeting. The occasion brought together partners to discuss recent progress, challenges, and the next steps in our mission to enhance photosynthesis for more sustainable crops. As we move forward, the insights gained in Dundee will help shape the next phase of our work, ensuring that BEST-CROP continues to make a meaningful impact on sustainable barley agriculture.
31
12
2024
In the first 18 months of the BEST-CROP project, our partners have actively participated in numerous events to present our research and engage with key stakeholders. From scientific conferences to industry fairs and policy workshops, we have shared our vision in 16 events for enhancing photosynthesis to develop more sustainable crops for the circular bioeconomy. Through these events, we have reached 3000 participants, including researchers, policymakers, and the general public, fostering valuable discussions and awareness .
10/11
07
2024
The second internal meeting of BEST-CROP was held in person at our partner institution, IMT Mines at Alès in France, on July 10th and 11th, 2024. The meeting focused on reviewing the project's first-year progress, highlighting ongoing work packages, addressing challenges, and discussing potential future implementations.
07
02
2024
The First internal meeting of BES-TCROP was held online on February 7, 2024. The meeting's goal was to explain the project's progress through the first six months, with a focus on the work packages that had already begun, and to discuss the project's future implementation.
27/28
07
2023
The newly started BEST-CROP project, funded by the European Union, had its official Kick-Off Meeting on July 27th and 28th, 2023, in Milan, hosted by the Università degli Studi di Milano.
BEST-CROP brings together eighteen partners from seven EU countries and the United Kingdom, joining to form an interdisciplinary consortium. The partnership is an alliance of European plant breeding companies, straw processing companies, and academic plant scientists whose goal is to improve barley yield, exploit the variability of barley straw quality and composition, and create new value chains for baley-derived products. The main focus of the event was the presentation of the activities that the consortium will carry out during the project.