Scott Raffle has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) George Lockie Award for his outstanding contribution to horticulture and the UK fruit industry. Scott said: “Having worked in the fruit industry all my life... recognition from the RHS means a huge amount to me" ➡️ buff.ly/WYapfCd

This evening our staff were out checking the three owl nestboxes at Park Farm, Cambridgeshire (under licence). There are no owls this year, but they ringed two Stock Dove chicks, bringing the total to seven for the year. #Farm24

Niab staff counting aphids in a protected strawberry crop today as part of an Innovate UK project called FLYTHRIVE which is testing and developing bespoke native hoverfly species blends to control key aphid pests of soft fruit crops under protection. #Farm24

One of the advantages of having trials next to IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire is having spitfires buzzing past as we harvest (although you may need to zoom in to see it! #Farm24

Niab staff supporting #Farm24!

The entomology team at East Malling are collecting wild blackberries and capturing any native flies or wasps that lay their eggs in other insects that emerge. Funded by British Berry Growers they're seeking naturally occurring predators of spotted wing drosophila, a pest of fruit crops. #Farm24

As well as wheat and other major crop harvesting, we also have novel crops on our trial grounds. Here are Jamie and and George harvesting a lentil crop. #Farm24

Entomologists at Niab’s East Malling site examining gut contents of earwigs feeding on apple crops to understand which aphid species they might be eating. Here they are doing lab work to validate a primer which will allow detection of individual aphid species at a molecular level the. #Farm24

Here are Howard, Shona, Will, Lee and Will afer netting the fodder and oilseeds crop inspector course plots today after drilling on Tuesday. Crop inspectors spend a day learning fodder and oilseeds theory online, before attending the plots and taking the crop inspector’s exam. #Farm24

#Farm24 is go and Lorenzo and Rhys from Niab's Kent trials team have been harvesting Recommended and Variety List RL&VL winter wheat trials at Petham, Canterbury.

It's #Farm24 today! Niab will be supporting as always showcasing photos and videos throughout the day of how we support UK agriculture.

From variety plots at open days, to the hustle and bustle of Cereals, regen ag conversations at Groundswell, and horticultural expertise at Fruit Focus, Niab’s summer events programme provided valuable opportunities to share our research, exchange ideas and connect with growers ➡️ buff.ly/LErrYOm

At the recent Groundswell event, Niab plant breeder Phil Howell was invited to join a VIP session with HRH Duchess of Edinburgh. He spoke about Niab’s previous and ongoing work, mlots of it funded by Defra, on exploring the potential for chickpea to become a viable new opportunity for UK growers.

#Vacancy: Director of Crop Improvement. Your chance to lead Niab's Crop Improvement Service Group, covering pre-breeding, precision breeding and emerging biotechnology across agricultural and horticultural crops. Full details and apply ➡️ buff.ly/FHJ9Niu

#Vacancy Head of Operations - Crop Improvement This role provides the operational backbone for Niab's Crop Improvement Service Group. You'll manage operational, project management and support staff, oversee resources and equipment. Full details and apply ➡️ buff.ly/FNX0to3

🌱 The first @novelcropnet.bsky.social Farmer Day was today at @niab-uk.bsky.social - on show: soya beans chickpeas lentils sunflowers hemp and flax. Great attendance and discussions. 📍 Join us tomorrow 17/7/26 for day 2 at Sonning Farm, @uniofreading.bsky.social from 10am. #UKFarming #Agriculture 🌿

Niab Kent and Cambridge trials teams working together to harvest the Variety List Winter Oilseed Rape trials in Kent last week.

Niab trials staff are getting stuck into this year's harvest! here we have the central team harvesting the first winter barley of the year near Cambridge and the south team doing the same in Broughton, Hampshire.

At Fruit Focus Niab's Scott Raffle was presented with the RHS George Lockie Award for outstanding contribution to fruit. Awarded by the RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Expert Group the annual award recognises individuals making an outstanding contribution within their plant group. Well done Scott!

Open for Fruit Focus! Come along and learn about Niab's fruit research directly from the people doing it. Stand tours at 10.30 and 3.30, plus seminars in the NFU Fruit Forum at 12.10 and 2.30.

Visit Niab at Fruit Focus 2026 and see our latest fruit research. Visit stand 628 for a stand tour or attend our research hours in the NFU Fruit Forum to listen to presentations on soft and tree fruit research. Plus collect your free copy of the Niab Fruit Annual Review, and talk to Niab staff.

Ready for day 2 of Groundswell. Starting the day with a stand tour. Then come on down for one of our seminars...

Join farmers, growers, researchers and producers at Novel and Underutilised Crops (NUCNet) Open Days on 16th and 17th July 2026. You'll get to see lentils, chickpeas, lupins, buckwheat, hemp, flax and sunflower, hear about the project and ask questions. Book at buff.ly/C806Xoq

It's officially goodbye to Cereals 2026 as the container is packed and shut and moved off to 2027's host site in Lincolnshire, where preparations for next year's event begin!

After ten years, including almost five as CEO, Professor Mario Caccamo leaves Niab today and looks back on his time here... 'Leading Niab through a significant period of positive transformation has been both a privilege and deeply rewarding'. Full story ➡️ buff.ly/K1bf7VZ

Join Niab at Groundswell 2026 on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July, with a full seminar programme in our marquee, supported by a range of crops showcasing our research-led approaches to regenerative and sustainable farming ➡️ buff.ly/0NTpr2e

This year's Cereals marked 10 years of the famous soil hole! Here are a selection of photos since then... back in 2016 it even had a marquee over the top (which might have been useful this year!), and 2026 was probably it's busiest year ever as we showcased what lies beneath Diddly Squat Farm.

Last week 50 international delegates visited Park Farm as part of the fourth session of the UPOV Technical Working Party on Testing Methods and Techniques. They attended an AI workshop, visited the field trials and learnt about Niab's work gene transformation, data science, pathology and more.

Dr Katrina Hayter has been appointed as Chief Executive of UK crop science organisation Niab, effective from 1 September 2026. Full story➡️

niab.com

The soil hole is being prepared Cereals Event. Interesting to see what's under the soil at Diddly Squat Farm. Come see for yourself at next week's Cereals Event.