Research Projects Directory

Discover research projects that are supporting the horticultural, and plant-based, food and drink supply chain.

Extending the season for Kentish cherries

University of Greenwich

Fruit

Food quality, Food waste

Extending the season for Kentish cherries

Use of state-of-the-art phenotyping and genomics to breed for cost reducing plant architecture in strawberry

NIAB

Fruit

Genetics, Plant physiology, Breeding

Use of state-of-the-art phenotyping and genomics to breed for cost reducing plant architecture in strawberry

Next generation apple breeding for resilient UK production

NIAB

Fruit

Genetics, Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds), Breeding

Next generation apple breeding for resilient UK production

Exploring the links between soil microbiome and carbon sequestration in soil

NIAB

Fruit, Vegetables & salads, Pulse grains or cereals

Soil & substrates

Exploring the links between soil microbiome and carbon sequestration in soil

A phenology-perceptive integrated biocontrol program for large raspberry aphid control

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

A phenology-perceptive integrated biocontrol program for large raspberry aphid control

Development of sustainable recycled growing media

NIAB

Fruit

Soil & substrates

Development of sustainable recycled growing media

Improving propagation in intensive cultivation systems for a Kent-bred raspberry variety

NIAB

Fruit

Plant health, Plant physiology, Breeding

Improving propagation in intensive cultivation systems for a Kent-bred raspberry variety

Using biochar from farm waste to lock carbon into soils

University of Kent

Vegetables & salads, Pulse grains or cereals

Soil & substrates

Using biochar from farm waste to lock carbon into soils

Identifying strawberries and raspberries with resistance to spotted wing drosophila

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Identifying strawberries and raspberries with resistance to spotted wing drosophila

Using technology to make young salad leaves more nutritious

NIAB

Vegetables & salads

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Food safety, Food quality, Food waste

Using technology to make young salad leaves more nutritious

Finding a cure for apple canker

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Increasing ascorbic acid and iron levels in tomatoes to enhance human nutrition and plant abiotic stress tolerance

NIAB

Vegetables & salads

Climate and weather, Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition

Increasing ascorbic acid and iron levels in tomatoes to enhance human nutrition and plant abiotic stress tolerance

Sustainable soaker pads for raspberry punnets

University of Kent

Fruit, Packaged food and drink

Packaging

Sustainable soaker pads for raspberry punnets

Unravelling the texture of raspberries

University of Greenwich

Fruit

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Plant physiology, Food quality, Breeding

Improving low-oxygen controlled atmosphere storage for Gala apples.

University of Greenwich

Fruit

Storage

Energy efficient drying for safe and sustainable probiotic fruit snacks

University of Greenwich

Packaged food and drink

Food processing, Energy

Energy efficient drying for safe and sustainable probiotic fruit snacks

The potential health benefits of Nashi Gold pear hybrids

University of Kent

Fruit

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition

The potential health benefits of Nashi Gold pear hybrids

Sustainable Plant Fibres for Fashion

NIAB

High-value products from plants (beauty, fragrance, essential oils)

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds), Plant physiology, Yield

Organic fertilisers for aeroponics

NIAB

Vegetables & salads

Fertilisers, Vertical Farming

Marker assisted breeding to produce powdery mildew resistant hop cultivars

University of Kent

Hops

Genetics, Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds), Breeding

Marker assisted breeding to produce powdery mildew resistant hop cultivars

Mapping Medway Horticulture to support water and business resilience

NIAB

Wine, Fruit, Vegetables & salads, Pulse grains or cereals, Hops

Water

Sustainable methods for extracting proteins from seaweed

University of Greenwich

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes

Alternative proteins

Re-purposing Fruit & Vegetable Powders

Business-led

Packaged food and drink

Food waste

Boosting water efficiencies of high-care controlled environment horticulture in Kent using new innovative British technology

Business-led

Vegetables & salads, Packaged food and drink

Water, Vertical Farming

Boosting water efficiencies of high-care controlled environment horticulture in Kent using new innovative British technology

From whiskey to mushrooms

Business-led

Novel ingredients, Energy, Food waste

Development of sustainable CO2 natural liquid hop extracts with high-impact ester profiles and functional benefits to beverages.

Business-led

Hops

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Food safety, Food quality

Development of sustainable CO2 natural liquid hop extracts with high-impact ester profiles and functional benefits to beverages.

Application of Agri-Residues (second harvest) as bio-fillers in injection moulded plastic blends for use in fresh produce packaging

Business-led

Fruit, Vegetables & salads, Pulse grains or cereals

Packaging

Evogro

Business-led

Vegetables & salads

Vertical Farming

Managing energy usage in apple cold storage in Kent

Business-led

Fruit

Storage

Unlocking the next-generation protein expression systems for animal-free cheese production

University of Kent

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes

Novel ingredients, Alternative proteins

Unlocking the next-generation protein expression systems for animal-free cheese production

Production of insect protein feed through valorisation of ‘organic waste’ from UK farms

University of Kent

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes

Alternative proteins

Production of insect protein feed through valorisation of ‘organic waste’ from UK farms

Upcycled Foods: ?Getting the goodness out of Kent cherries

University of Kent

Fruit, Packaged food and drink

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Food processing, Food waste

Upcycled Foods: ?Getting the goodness out of Kent cherries

Optimising the propagation environment in controlled environment systems to maximise strawberry yields

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds), Plant physiology, Breeding, Vertical Farming

Optimising the propagation environment in controlled environment systems to maximise strawberry yields

Novel approaches to pest and disease control in apples and pears

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Novel approaches to pest and disease control in apples and pears

Sustainable management of apple canker

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Precision pollination for improved nutrition and shelf-life

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Precision pollination for improved nutrition and shelf-life

Digital Crop Management for glasshouse pests and diseases

NIAB

Vegetables & salads

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds), Automation, AI and Robotics

Digital Crop Management for glasshouse pests and diseases

Enhancing Soil Health Through Innovative Microbiome Manipulation

University of Kent

Soil & substrates, Food waste

Enhancing Soil Health Through Innovative Microbiome Manipulation

Reducing the environmental impact of commercial seaweed cultivation

University of Kent

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes

Packaging, Alternative proteins

Reducing the environmental impact of commercial seaweed cultivation

Testing the efficacy of chitosan-infused antimicrobial fresh fruit packaging

University of Greenwich

Packaged food and drink

Packaging

Development of a measure, report and verification protocol for enhanced rock weathering to improve soil fertility

University of Kent

Vegetables & salads, Pulse grains or cereals

Climate and weather, Soil & substrates

Development of a measure, report and verification protocol for enhanced rock weathering to improve soil fertility

Augmentoria to boost natural biological control

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Augmentoria to boost natural biological control

Integration of novel products into apple scab management

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Integration of novel products into apple scab management

Harnessing UK hops for sustainable non-alcoholic beer production

University of Kent

Hops

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Breeding

Enhancing the Uptake of UK Hops by National Breweries through Comprehensive Hop Sensory and Chemical Assessments

University of Kent

Hops

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Breeding

PROJECT PiP: Crafted in Kent - raising the bar for Alcohol-Free wine

NIAB

Wine

Food quality, Food processing

Development of stable and clean label mochi ice cream recipes capable of withstanding temperature fluctuation

University of Greenwich

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes, Packaged food and drink

Food quality, Novel ingredients

Development of stable and clean label mochi ice cream recipes capable of withstanding temperature fluctuation

Enhancing Tigernut Mylkshake Stability, Quality, and Customer Wellbeing through Innovative Processing

University of Greenwich

Alternative proteins/meat & dairy substitutes, Packaged food and drink

Food processing

Enhancing Tigernut Mylkshake Stability, Quality, and Customer Wellbeing through Innovative Processing

Berry Fresh Initiative: Evaluating the Impact of Decontamination on the Sensory Properties of Strawberry

NIAB

Fruit

Crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)

Berry Fresh Initiative: Evaluating the Impact of Decontamination on the Sensory Properties of Strawberry

Understanding the true medicinal value of mushrooms

University of Greenwich

Mushrooms

Flavour, taste, texture & nutrition, Food quality

Supporting sustainable innovation

From extending the shelf-life of fresh produce and reducing food waste, to storing carbon in soils, find out how researchers are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our sector.

Use our Directory to find relevant research projects and get in touch to see how research expertise in the region could help support sustainable innovation for your business.