Drought resistant cereal research ‘vital’ as world population rises

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Aberystwyth University’s world-renowned plant research has been boosted by a prestigious European Union-funded research fellowship.

The esteemed award has been given to Dr Jaykumar Patel, whose work will explore how to make the cereal pearl millet more resistant to drought. 

Pearl millet is a cereal crop that is a staple in many African countries, as well as in India and South Asia.

Traditionally used for making porridge, kedgeree and flat breads like chapattis, it is increasingly used for making other kinds of bread, biscuits and breakfast cereals.

The new research at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences will examine the crop’s key genes and aims to use cutting-edge technology to improve yield, resilience to drought and its nutritional contents.