The project takes a naturally occuring nitrogen-fixing bacteria that can fix nitrogen from the air in crop plants, thereby reducing the need for polluting nitrogen fertilisers and looks to improve its effectiveness across a range of crops and seasons. The process of fixing nitrogen works best in spring and summer temperatures and this project seeks to extend the range of temperatures over which the bacteria survives and functions. This will be done through a natural breeding process and seed treatment formulation improvements. Use of nitrogen fixing bacteria can signifcantly improve the sustainability of agriculture while generating yield improvements and cost effectiveness of UK farming.

"Professor Matthew Dickinson's research focuses on molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens, including work on root-infecting pathogens of tomatoes and phytoplasma diseases of a range of plants. He will provide his expert advice to Azotic Technologies Ltd. to help them develop new, advanced methods for detecting their nitrogen-fixing bacteria in field situ ations.This ability will enable farmers to make informed choices about nitrogen fertiliser application."