Professor Alison Kingston-Smith is the Director of Research in IBERS and leads the cross-disciplinary Rural Futures Hub of Aberystwyth University.  She has a broad background in plant biochemistry and physiology which she applies to advancing fundamental knowledge in plant science, most notably in regards to identification of quality traits in forage crops that can be used to decrease negative environmental impact of ruminants. She is currently interested in exploring how stress memory in plants affects resilience and feed quality in forage grasses and clovers. Her interest in sustainable farming has been further expanded recently and is the Aberystwyth University Lead for the EU-Intereg ValuSect project, exploring the potential for edible insects to become a mainstream foodstuff.