Research & Science

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Crop and food security

The work of the programme focuses on finding new and sustainable ways to protect growing crops, stored food and the environment from pests and diseases. It also provides cross-programme molecular expertise in areas such as GM detection, food authenticity and wildlife identification. Using a multi-disciplinary approach from molecular biology through to field-based surveillance, the programme's main research themes include the development of novel diagnostic and bioanalytical methods, molecular identification and authenticity, pest and disease surveillance & management, plant & bee health and innovative pest control strategies.

More information is available about the scientific teams that work together to form this programme and the science they are involved in:

About Quick Links

Hover over the links on the right hand side for a brief overview of the subject and click to visit the associated web page.

GDS

Government Decontamination Service provides advice, guidance and management support to those with responsibilities for decontamination

FAPAS

FAPAS, FEPAS, Gemma, Leap and Phytopas are proficiency testing schemes run by Fera to enable laboratories worldwide to assess their proficiency in chemical and microbiological analysis

eDomero

eDomero is an online registration system for all plant health inspection services relating to the import and export of plants, plant pests, plant produce and, soil and growing medium in England and Wales.

Seed Certification

Seed Certification is the online system for making applications for seed certification in England.

BeeBase

Information for bee keepers

FC24

FC24 is comprehensive guide to EU food contaminants legislation and residue limits for food industry professionals

Liaison

Liaison provides agronomists, growers and the fresh produce trade with rapid access to pesticide approvals, label information and pesticide MRLs

Pesticide Usage Statistics

Searchable data from the pesticide usage surveys commissioned by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides

Plant Clinic

Global pest and disease identification services for all horticultural and agricultural crops, garden plants and plant-based products.

REACH Services

Analytical and risk assessment services for compilation of technical REACH dossiers or chemical safety reports.

Food Analysis

Details of the analytical testing services available for the food and drink industry

UK National Reference Laboratory

Fera is the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for the UK and for Malta for a variety of functions: Chemicals in Food, Pesticides, Veterinary Drug Residues

CropMonitor

The CropMonitor website provides information sourced from monitoring sites located across the country and reports up to date measurements of crop pest and disease activity in arable crops throughout England.

GM Inspectorate

The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) provides Defra with GM inspection and enforcement services for the deliberate release of GMOs.

Licensing of non-native biocontrol agents

Background information on the legislation and procedures in place for issuing of licences to release non-native biocontrol agents in England under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Non-native Species Secretariat

Fera provides the Secretariat for the GB Non-native programme board. The Secretariat's role includes coordinating research programmes and ensuring the exchange of experience, information and specialist expertise on non-native issues amongst key agencies and sectors.

NCPPB

The National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria houses virtually all known bacterial plant pathogens of importance to the Agricultural and Horticultural sectors. Strains are supplied freeze dried in glass ampoules and also as live cultures on agar for diagnostic, research, and Industrial applications.