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Improving photosynthesis to increase food and fuel production

October 3rd, 2011

Producing enough sustainable and affordable food for a growing population and replacing diminishing fossil fuels will be one of the biggest challenges facing the world in the coming decades. Even a small change to the efficiency of photosynthesis could make a significant difference to yields.

Dr Erik Murchie, an expert in crop physiology at The University of Nottingham, is to take a lead role in a £2m nationwide study to overcome some of the fundamental limitations of photosynthesis - the process used by plants to harvest energy from the sun. The hope is that this research will lead to major increases in crop yields for food, bioenergy and the production of renewable chemicals.

His study is one of five new research projects announced today by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). A total of just over £2m has been provided for these projects which complement four funded last year via an 'Ideas Lab' in collaboration with the National Science Foundation in the USA.
Producing enough sustainable and affordable food for a growing population and replacing diminishing fossil fuels will be one of the biggest challenges facing the world in the coming decades. Even a small change to the efficiency of photosynthesis could make a significant difference to yields.

Dr Erik Murchie, an expert in crop physiology at The University of Nottingham, is to take a lead role in a £2m nationwide study to overcome some of the fundamental limitations of photosynthesis - the process used by plants to harvest energy from the sun. The hope is that this research will lead to major increases in crop yields for food, bioenergy and the production of renewable chemicals.

His study is one of five new research projects announced today by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). A total of just over £2m has been provided for these projects which complement four funded last year via an 'Ideas Lab' in collaboration with the National Science Foundation in the USA.

Citation: Improving photosynthesis to increase food and fuel production (2011, October 3) retrieved 10 August 2026 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/79090036/improving-photosynthesis-to-increase-food-and-fuel-production.html
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