Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)
IBERS, a UK National Capability in Grassland & Plant Breeding Science.
IBERS is a leading research institute, committed to ensuring humanity can sustainably produce the food, feed and plant-based industrial resources it needs.
Drawing on more than a century of plant breeding expertise, our scientists develop new and improved varieties of resilient grasses, oats and other crops to address pressing global challenges including food security, dietary health and climate change.
We work collaboratively with policy makers, supply chains, agriculture and other industry partners to ensure our research reaches beyond our laboratories and experimental field trials to deliver real benefits to society.
As one of only eight research institutes funded by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), we provide the UK with a national capability in grassland and plant breeding science, supporting strategic sustainability goals and net zero targets.
We are part of Aberystwyth University and are based on Gogerddan campus, where our state-of-art facilities include a national plant phenomics centre, an advanced biorefining pilot facility and a unique seed bank which safeguards one of the world’s largest collection of seeds from grasses, clover, oats and miscanthus. We also have extensive research farms, including our Upland Research Centre at Pwllpeiran. These cover more than 1,000 hectares and provide an altitudinal challenge gradient from sea level to 600m in elevation.
Browse our Bioscience for a Better Tomorrow booklet to find out more about our ground-breaking work. You can also download a PDF copy.
We focus on Forage, Food and Fibre crops with research divided into the following groups:
