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UK funding (£388,037): Allium Protect: Delivering a Sustainable Biocontrol for UK Agriculture Ukri 1 May 2024 UK Research and Innovation, United Kingdom
Overview
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Allium Protect: Delivering a Sustainable Biocontrol for UK Agriculture
| Abstract | Globally, onions are the second-most popular vegetable, with production at 99Mt p.a. In the UK, they are the fourth-most consumed vegetable and growing in popularity, given recent resurgences in the perceived health benefits of eating vegetables and enthusiasm for home cooking. Whilst it might be anticipated that the UK onion industry (based primarily in eastern England), would be thriving, this is not the case. Home-onion production fulfils less than half of the UK's demand (˜800kt p.a.), with the deficit made up by imports over approximately three months, associated with greater-environmental impact and higher-overall prices. The situation has been exasperated by recent-hot summers, seeing onions go unirrigated in favour of other crops, resulting in a 20%-yield reduction. Defra anticipates this trend to continue and growers are under intense pressure to increase productivity and regain import trade and in so doing, reduce waste, crop-input losses and transport impacts in a transition to net-zero production. **Our vision** is to allow UK growers to grow, store and supply onions to the UK market all-year-around. Improved-crop quality is key to increased productivity, with bacterial infections being the greatest cause of crop- and storage-failures, economic losses (£8.5M p.a. farm-gate losses) and reputational damage. 'Allium Protect' follows a recent IUK SMART project, which detailed the main onion-rot bacteria and generated proof-of-concept for an **innovative, bacteriophage-based solution**; naturally-occurring, highly-specific bacterial viruses, with zero non-target effects. Bacteriophage form the basis of a low-risk biocontrol and are being pioneered by the Project Lead as Plant-Protection Products in key fresh-produce sectors. Allium Protect's **key objectives** are to build on the SMART data, addressing new **scientific- and technological-challenges** and assessing the technology's **feasibility** within **commercial-onion growing**. English growers are central to the project, led by Rix Farms/Stourgarden, producing 20% of the UK's onion crop and supplying ˜90kt for retail (including 100% Tesco's requirements). 'Allium Protect' **aims** to optimise a pilot-bacteriophage mix from the earlier SMART project, assess its efficacy in preventing crops from field-infections and subsequent in-store breakdown. Key academic knowledge exchange will detail the full onion-growing environment microbiome and any impacts of bacteriophage on the dynamics within it. Success will provide confidence to invest in further R&D and exploitation towards full-commercialisation. The project addresses a timely opportunity given the impact of rot-induced losses on the UK onion industry. It also represents a significant opportunity for the Lead Application to reinforce its position as a major player in a rapidly-growing, global-biopesticide market. |
| Category | Collaborative R&D |
| Reference | 10103903 |
| Status | Closed |
| Funded period start | 01/05/2024 |
| Funded period end | 31/10/2025 |
| Funded value | £388,037.00 |
| Source | https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10103903 |
Participating Organisations
| APS BIOCONTROL LIMITED |
£168,789.00 |
| CARDIFF UNIVERSITY |
£179,963.00 |
| FARMACY PLC |
£27,326.00 |
| P.G. RIX (FARMS) LIMITED |
£11,959.00 |
| STOURGARDEN LIMITED |
The filing refers to a past date, and does not necessarily reflect the current state. The latest known state is available on the following page: APS Biocontrol Ltd., Dundee.