The brown marmorated stink bug has spread from Asia causing damage to fruit crops and leaving a pungent odour in buildings. At the Niab soft fruit day, Francis Wamonje explained how Niab is using Defra funding to survey the UK for its presence and alert the public ➡️ https://ow.ly/QrQO50YgGpv

Niab's Cambridge Trials Team have been busy sowing peas and beans in the polytunnels, as part of pathology trials on downy mildew.

The UK’s wheat is under threat from a newly identified strain of the yellow rust pathogen, prompting an urgent mobilisation of research institutes to protect harvests. The new strain, identified in 2025, has overcome the YR15 gene that was protecting many wheat varieties ➡️https://ow.ly/pJWI50YcJPi

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To celebrate, Niab's Asia Roberts-Yalland explores the hugely important role women have played in the Official Seed Testing Station: https://www.niab.com/news-views/blogs/role-women-official-seed-testing-station #Womeninscience

Today was the BAPL/Niab Apple and Pear Technical Day at East Malling. Lots of Niab speakers, pictured here are Adam Walker explaining how to use earwigs to for control of wooly apple aphid and Sarah Arnold presenting novel approaches to control of apple blossom weevil.

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) can cause 90% crop loss in soft and stone fruit crops and the industry needs reliable forms of natural control. At Niab's soft fruit day, Michelle Fountain explained how naturally-occurring parasitoid insects might be deployed for SWD control ➡️ https://ow.ly/An1250Ya6Ao

Learn how to evaluate new practices or technologies and make informed, evidence-based decisions on #Niab's Designing and Conducting On-farm Trials course. It's a valuable course for anyone interested in designing applied on-farm trials, or developing an ADOPT project ➡️https://ow.ly/8msz50Y4Uob

Niab has been developing bespoke native hoverfly species blends to control key aphid pests of soft fruit crops under protection. Sarah Arnold presented the latest results at the Niab soft fruit day on 3rd December, which can be viewed at ow.ly/Kc6s50Y4mEa

Niab's Rob Jackson explains all about the brand new Introduction to AI in agriculture course... More info and book➡️https://ow.ly/F0Tb50Y1NCG

Looking to gain an understanding of the precision technologies available and how digital farming techniques can maximise business profitability? Book your spot on #Niab's brand new 'Basics of Precision Agriculture' course, held at Ripon Farm Services ➡️ https://ow.ly/efL550XJHWQ

If you enjoy practical, hands-on work and want to learn new skills this seasonal role is for you! You don't need a background in agriculture - what matters most is attention to detail, reliability, and a willingness to learn. Full info and apply➡️https://ow.ly/9kIV50Y0vOZ #Vacancy

Book your spot on one of #Niab's upcoming vegetable and soil courses. And until 18th Jan you can get 10% off using the code TRAIN10. Book at https://ow.ly/PyFp50XWMJW

Niab's Charlotte Nellist, Kostya Kanyuka and Nichola Hawkins presenting at yesterday's AHDB UKCPVS stakeholder meeting. Charlotte and Kostya introduced updates from 2025, before Nichola discussed fungicide resistance status in cereals. For more on the UKCPVS see https://ow.ly/JMjN50XWabj

Book your spot at a free webinar and hear from Dr Ian Clarke, Rothamsted Research about the findings from a #CHCx3 cover crop trial. Niab's Dr Lydia Smith and Dr Nathan Morris will then talk discuss the results from the seed rate, drill date and inputs trials. Book now➡️https://ow.ly/hpMF50XU1VT

Niab's Francis Wamonje has been leading a Growing Kent & Medway funded project to develop new biocontrol options for large raspberry aphid in protected raspberry crops. He presented his findings at the Niab soft fruit day on 3rd December ➡️ https://ow.ly/a2xE50XTUWT

Niab Training Courses focus on boosting the technical skills needed by farmers, growers, agronomists and the supply chain to improve crop production. Book one today ➡️ https://ow.ly/3xuL50XS181

All former #Niab CEOs have a portrait, and Prof Tina Barsby's was unveiled in July. #NiabHighlights2025

Happy New Year from all at Niab.

In a landmark moment for UK crop science, the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 finally came into force in November. #NiabHighlights2025

Niab's continues to be at the forefront of soft fruit research with delegates hearing about our latest research findings at the 2025 Soft Fruit Day. #NiabHighlights2025

Niab welcomed over 1000 visitors to its various arable open days and specialist events in May and June, from Norfolk to Hampshire, Herefordshire to Co Durham. #NiabHighlights2025

Perhaps not a #NiabHighlight as such, but some good Niab teaam work with the discovery of the YR15 breakdown in northern England by the Niab trials team, confirmed by the UKCPVS.

Niab welcomed Belinda Clarke and Richard Taylor to the Niab Board. #NiabHighlights2025

At Cereals in June, we awarded Mascani winter oats the Niab Variety Cup. After 21 years on the AHDB Recommended List it is a worthy winner. #NiabHighlights2025

Niab welcomed 55 fruit agronomists to East Malling in September to demonstrate the results of our latest fruit research. They discussed topics such as pest control, commercial trials and vineyard cover cropping ➡️https://ow.ly/c1gg50XNBCQ #NiabHighlights2025

Niab’s Crop Transformation work is part of a major exhibition at the Science Museum. Future of Food features living tissue culture exhibits produced by Niab and a video of Niab staff explaining the process of genetic transformation➡️https://ow.ly/kSS750XNBoW #NiabHighlights2025

Niab hosted the annual Controlled Environment Users’ Group conference at East Malling in September, demonstrating fruit research in TCEA conditions. #NiabHighlights2025

Merry Christmas from all at Niab

The Niab stand at Cereals saw 130 crop plots, 25 crop species, 211 plot boards, 54 posters, 49 staff, 30 flags, 1,100 cups of tea, coffee and squash, 1,000 bacon rolls, 2 tractors, 1 plot drill, 1 fertiliser spreader, 1 Variety Cup, 1 soil hole, and thousands of visitors. #NiabHighlights2025

Let us help you make the Christmas dinner next year! Whether your seeds are vegetables, forage crops, flowers or shrubs we can help ensure the success of your crops. For more info on Niab's testing services and how we can help you see www.niab.com/analytical-services.

Niab and British Apples and Pears Ltd presented a technical event for apple and pear growers in February with 80 in attendance and 110 live streaming. #NiabHighlights2025

Back in January, Niab was raising the profile of agri-science as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture agri-science week. The week showcased research and innovation in agriculture, with a new report out now: https://ow.ly/3z5s50XNAyF #NiabHighlights2025

As we head towards Christmas and 2026, we'll be sharing some highlights from 2025 over the festive period. We've got some favourites picked by Niab staff from another busy year as we put plant science in practice. Keep an eye out over the next few days... #NiabHighlights2025

Niab's Stuart Knight explains all about Niab's advanced nutrient management for combinable crops training course. Hear about what you'll learn and why the course is suitable for you. More info and book ➡️https://ow.ly/7p1g50XKZ3E

Looking to gain an understanding of the precision technologies available and how digital farming techniques can ultimately maximise business profitability? Book your spot on Niab's brand new 'Basics of Precision Agriculture' course, held at Ripon Farm Services in February➡️ https://ow.ly/Tqua50XJHWO

Niab's Michelle Fountain is an convenor of the @royentsoc.bsky.social Behaviour Special Interest Group forum, held in Birmingham on 10 Feb 2026. Sign up now: www.royensoc.co.uk/event/behavi... #BehaviourSIG

Niab Soils Specialist Nathan Morris explains all about the Essentials of good soil management course. The course covers all the essentials for getting to grips with your soil, including soil types, structure, compaction and much more. Full details and book➡️https://ow.ly/ev3a50XHlSk

Niab, in collaboration with the Maize Growers Association, on behalf of Anglian Water, are investigating the under-sowing of maize in the UK. Whether you're a farmer, grower, adviser or researcher we want to hear your views and experiences of undersown maize ➡️https://ow.ly/uTR450XFFq0

It's #WorldSoilDay! We take soil seriously at #Niab - we're involved in several long-term studies, research into new farming systems as well as collaborating with PhD students and others. Explore more on our work➡️https://ow.ly/By7p50XCOx6

At Niab's annual Soft Fruit Day yesterday, 60 people in-person with 235 joining online during the day, heard the latest from #Niab staff and others on soft fruit research. This is Katia Zacharaki presenting work on maximising strawberry yields in Controlled Environments.

Some photos from #Niab's Kent trials team busy using the plot end sprayer, spraying off the tramlines on VL Winter Oilseed Rape and Winter Wheat trials.

Hear from trainer Aoife O' Driscoll on what to expect on #Niab's disease management and control in cereals crops course. An essential for new entrants to farming, agronomy and disease management research. More info and book: https://ow.ly/Ylw250XyHQA

New #Blog from Niab CEO Professor Mario Caccamo discusses how gene editing, a precision breeding tool, can help address the pressing challenges that agriculture faces ➡️https://ow.ly/IX4u50XxoCi#Blog

Looking ahead to 2026? Now's the time to plan your professional development for the new year by booking onto #Niab's training courses. Gain fresh insights and new skills with courses in practical agronomy, crop protection, farm business and more. Full info and book➡️https://ow.ly/QhJA50XwX7Q

Book now for the #CHCx3 Autumn Webinar. Join Tim Dart and Dr Lizzy Parker from the Farm Carbon Toollkit will give an example of the carbon foot-printing work they do and how they are helping growers. Book now https://ow.ly/RV2450XvT5I

#Niab's Lydia Smith has been talking at the Association of Applied Biologists#NiabRoots to Regeneratice Agriculture conference today, explaining the work of #CHCx3.

Book your spot at the Niab Soft Fruit Day - either in-person or online. Sessions include: *latest developments in pest management *improving post-harvest quality *improving resource use efficiency *progress in the soft fruit genetic improvement network More info and book ➡️https://ow.ly/fUTh50XrOr8

Plots looking good for our Winter Oilseed Rape Variety List trials in Kent. For more on how we can help your trials see https://ow.ly/WVIw50XrO2t

Niab has welcomed the entry into force today of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England as a landmark moment for British agriculture and crop science. Full story ➡️https://ow.ly/Wi9L50Xr0zT

Hear from #Niab's Tally Wright in a new video shown at #COP30 and featuring Crop Science Centre work...