Rattan Yadav

PhD

Dr Rattan Yadav is a Research Leader/Academic with expertise in Plant Genetics, Genomics and Breeding at the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) of the Aberystwyth University. He received his PhD degree from the University of Sussex and subsequently undertook post-doctoral research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines before coming to Aberystwyth in 1996. Currently he also holds an adjunct professorship at CCSHAU, Hisar, India. 

Recent research grants:

1. Principal Investigator - Capturing Naturally Occurring Genetic Variations for Health Benefitting Traits in Pearl Millet germplasm for Sustainable Food, Nutrition and Health Security, Funder - Royal Society, UK, £150,218, 1 March 2020 to 1 September 2022.
2. Principal Investigator - 2020 ASEM-DUO Professor exchange, India and European Countries, £2550, January 2020 - September 2022, http://www.asemduo.org/02_programs/programs_10.php
3. Co-Investigator – A new paradigm in boosting orphan crops to super grains: Linking metabolomics and gene editing to improve Tef for global food security and sustainable agriculture (SUPERTEFF) , Funder - European Commission, £191,193, March 2020 to June 2022.
4. Principal Investigator – Delivering low glycaemic index (GI) pearl millet grains for the benefit of type-2 diabetics in African regions, Funder - InnovateUK, £498,000, 1 November 2019 to 28 February 2022
5. Principal Investigator - Development of pearl millet hybrid seeds and novel food products: An affordable resource in the prevention of type-2 diabetes. January 2017- January 2019, £814,000, 2017-2019, Funders - Innovate UK
6. Principal Investigator - Application of crop genetics to improve Calcium content in millets and other crops for promoting health benefits in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, Funder - European Commission, 2015-2017, £216,008
7. Principal Investigator - Development of pearl millet for health benefits for type-2 diabetes – feasibility study of physicochemical properties and genetic enhancement, March 2015-July 2017, £499,998, Funder - Innovate UK (Unilever (UK) and Hindustan Unilever (India) as Industry partners)
8. Principal Investigator – Dissecting and accessing useful genetic variations for Iron and Zinc content in pearl millet using genome wide association studies, BBSRC and Unilever, 2014-2018, £245,000
9. Co-Investigator - Application of innovative plant breeding and phenotyping technologies to reduce the nutrient requirements of forages and improve livestock production efficiency, Funder - Innovate UK (2016-2021), total value £1.16M.
10.  Co-Investigator - Novel strategies for genetic improvement of disease resistance in perennial ryegrass, Funder - Innovate UK, 2015-2020, £785,394.
11. Co-Investigator -  Roots for the future – A systematic approach to root design (SUREROOT), BBSRC Link, £2.5 million over 5 years (2014-2019)
12. Co-Investigator - Genomics-assisted breeding for fatty acid content and composition in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), BBSRC Link, £2.4 million over 5 years. 2013-2018.

Course Viewer

• BR25620 - Research Methods

Lecturer

• BRM0720 - Current Topics in Biotechnology
• BRM0700 - Current Topics in Biotechnology

Grader

• BR36400 - Research Project
• BR36440 - Research Project

Tutor

• BRM0720 - Current Topics in Biotechnology

BRM3920: Crop Genomics and Genetic Engineering

BRM0700 - Current Topics in Biotechnology

My research, over the last 30 years, has focused on capturing and translating naturally occurring genetic variations present in crops germplasm for ‘public good’ outcomes. In particular I have interests in developing and applying modern breeding methods utilising genomics to hasten crop breeding in tropical millets (Pennisetum glaucum, Eleusine coracana) and temperate forage grasses (Lolium perenne) leading to sustainable food, nutrition, health, and environmental outcomes at global scale. To achieve such goals, I collaborate extensively across the globe with academics and industries (e.g. Unilever, Hindustan Unilever, Germinal Holdings) and ‘not for profit’ inter-governmental organizations (such as European Union, CGIAR, FAO, IAEA) and passionate about pursuing ‘international development’ goals via sustainable agricultural developments. I am currently a member of UK government’s Research Excellence Framework (https://www.ref.ac.uk/media/1789/main-panel-a-full-membership-list-nov-2021.pdf), sub panel 6: Agriculture, Food and Veterinary sciences. REF in UK is a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. Earlier in 2020, I completed my 3 years tenure as a member of BBSRC’s ‘Follow-on-Fund Committee’. Presently, I am also a member of several grant panels within the UK (e.g. GCRF, Newton Fund, British Council, BBSRC, Innovate UK) and abroad (e.g. European Commission, Swedish Council for Sustainable Development (known as Formas)). In 2020, I also had an opportunity to review global CRP ‘RICE’ hosted by IRRI to which I provided leadership in evaluating quality and effectiveness of its science, and provided recommendations for its future orientation. I am Academic editor of PlosOne Since 2014, and guest editing a special issue for Agronomy and Frontiers in Plant Science currently.