The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in conjunction with the Scottish Government, has awarded £3M in research funding to four projects to improve food security for some of the world's most valuable crops.
The £2.99M funding is the first round of awards from BBSRC's Horticulture and Potato Initiative (HAPI) which supports high-quality, industrially relevant research projects on potato and edible horticulture crops.
The Scottish Government has contributed £627,097 towards the research.
HAPI brings academic researchers together with industry in order to deliver bigger yields of better quality fruits and vegetables for the consumer, through more sustainable farming practices.
Dr Celia Caulcott, BBSRC Director of Innovation and Skills, said: "Potato is the world's third most important food crop after wheat and rice, with millions of people worldwide depending on it for food, feed and income.
"With a growing world population predicted to reach nine billion people by 2050, this research looking at maximising yields and minimising losses will advance knowledge and benefit UK and world-wide potato producers, thus contributing to an important UK economic sector and helping us towards achieving global food security."
The four projects focus on potato and onion, but the findings could have applications for a wide range of crops and agriculture.
HAPI will be releasing a second call for research funding later on the year.
