Agform,Sussex University partner to develop novel fungicide

The UK agrochemical company Agform will collaborate with the UK University of Sussex to develop novel fungicide compounds for cereals.

A new laboratory has been opened at Hilldale Research Centre in Wickham to develop novel fungicide compounds, based on groundbreaking University of Sussex research.

Work planned at the site will help to drive vital research into the control of respiratory activity in fungi which attack the world's major cereal crops. The new venture is the result of the University's first ever industrial partnership.

With the help of a recent £1m award, including a contribution of £602,390 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Professor Tony Moore, of the University of Sussex, will collaborate with Agform Ltd to accelerate the development of fungicide resistance inhibitors.

Fungal pathogens are adept at developing resistance to treatments by expressing an enzyme called the alternative oxidase (AOX). The novel compounds formulated by Professor Moore prevent this enzyme from being functional. With further development, these compounds may be effective for longer and require less frequent spraying of crops.

The AOX Lab represents a significant investment in UK industry and innovation, as the only UK-owned commercial research facility for new agrochemical actives in the country.

Agform’s existing nanotechnology capabilities is a successful example of the government’s investment in innovative technology and research, with a number of commercial products already derived from this technology being marketed in the UK and the EU.

The AOX Lab was partly funded by two grants from the Technology Strategy Board (now Innovate UK), supported by DEFRA and BBSRC.

Professor Moore said: “The implications of this ongoing research are potentially huge, both in terms of protecting vital yields of wheat, barley and rice across the world, and lessening the environmental damage caused by multiple applications of fungicides.”

John Misselbrook, Managing Director of Agform, said: “Agform Limited are delighted to provide the facilities to support this project – our collaboration with the University of Sussex has inspired the company to strengthen our focus on Research & Development, and particularly to solving the international problem of resistance to agrochemicals.

"Any new product identified by this collaboration could be very important to the cultivation of cereal crops in the UK and valuable to a global market.”

Dr Ian Carter, Director of Research and Enterprise, University of Sussex, said: “This is a great step towards realising the full commercial potential of Professor Moore’s BBSRC-funded research, having worked closely with our business incubation hub, the Sussex Innovation Centre, over a number of years supported by the University’s Enterprise Development Fund.

"It is essential that we support our researchers in maximising the impact of their work, and a big part of this is by taking the opportunity to bring innovative products to market.”