IBERS (Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences)

The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, is based at the 160ha Gogerddan campus, which showcases research across grassland, cereals and bio-energy crops.

IBERS research areas are built on a 100-year legacy and the institute has a world-renowned reputation in plant breeding. IBERS hosts the National Plant Phenomics Centre (NPPC), a national capability funded by BBSRC, which is available to both researchers from academia and industry, which provides facilities to support plant breeding research.

Delivering pioneering research since 1989

Three key research areas of IBERS are underpinned by the Plant Breeding Programme: sustainable grasslands, novel food and feed (oats and pulses) and bioenergy crops.

In addition to the research facilities at Gogerddan, Aberystwyth University also has a 1000ha commercial farm which includes dairy, sheep and beef enterprises, and is involved in many of IBERS’ research projects.

Since 1989, Germinal has sponsored breeding work in the grass and clover varieties at IBERS. Their close working relationship has resulted in research at IBERS being translated into a huge number of commercial varieties which can be recognised through the prefix “Aber®”.

A large amount of the research conducted at IBERS is focussed on sustainable grassland systems, with the aim to enhance the sustainability of pasture-based livestock agriculture to help deliver net-zero livestock systems by 2050. Research within this area includes home-grown high protein feed, reducing GHG emissions from ruminants, soil protection and more.

Research interests:

• Sustainable grasslands
• Novel food and feed (oats and pulses)
• Miscanthus and bioenergy