DataHarvest: delivering large-scale research field trial capabilities to the UK crop R&D sector

研究背景近年来，许多注意力集中在关键作物物种的基因组学和生物信息学基础资源的开发上。这包括为组装复杂的作物基因组提供资金，并加强对基因功能和相互作用的理解。虽然对于释放潜在的生产力增长以支持粮食安全至关重要，但现在大规模进行试验性实地试验的能力存在差距。这种研究试验能力是向植物育种者、种植者和更广泛的农业产业提供作物研究成果的核心。在本提案中，我们要求为一种高精度研究型地块联合收割机提供资金，该联合收割机能够收获各种作物，包括所有英国种植的谷物和豆类品种。这将有助于在未来5-10年内保障NIAB-剑桥研究中心的研究现场试验。它将支持NIAB开展的各种作物研究和育种前活动的交付，这些活动通常与其他大学，研究所和工业合作伙伴合作进行。因此，它将为英国作物研究人员提供一个高度可及的途径，提供大量高质量的研究组合，以提供与BBSRC的高级别主题“应对战略挑战”（“生物科学促进可持续农业和食品”）和“建立坚实的基础”（“基础设施”和“合作，伙伴关系和知识交流”）相一致的成果。所要求的设备将在NIAB广泛的试验设施和相关的作物研究能力和专业知识的背景下获得-从而最大限度地提高作物研发界广泛采用的潜力。目的和目标本提案的目的是购买一个Haldrup C85地块联合收割机，以支持英国作物研究的影响。该联合收割机将配备机载近红外光谱仪（英国农业研究中首次使用），允许在联合收割机上测量谷物蛋白质含量，这是确定谷物质量和最终用途的重要标准。它还将提供自动秸秆称重，从而能够准确评估作物生物量（作物将能量有效转化为可收获产品的能力的重要指标），并包括用于指导路线规划和全球定位系统数据标记的综合全球定位系统功能。潜在的应用和效益NIAB每年提供超过100，000块耕地和饲料试验田，其中15，000块是可组合的研究田。目前使用两台Haldrup C85联合收割机交付，其中一台已达到更换阈值。所要求的设备具有联合收割机上的新功能，目前在英国作物研究部门还没有使用。它将直接有利于NIAB的研究交付（目前BBSRC投资1100万英镑），并促进从公共和私营部门合作伙伴和合作者获得高质量的研究现场试验。

Research contextIn recent years, much attention has focussed on the development of resources that underpin genomics and bioinformatics in key crop species. This includes funding for assembling complex crop genomes and enhanced understanding of how genes function and interact. Whilst crucial for unlocking potential productivity gains to support food security, there is now a gap in capacity for experimental field trials, undertaken at scale. Such research trial capabilities are core to delivering crop research outputs to plant breeders, growers and the wider agricultural industry. In this proposal we request funds for a high-precision research plot combine capable of harvesting a wide range of crops, including all UK grown cereal and legume species. This will help safeguard the delivery of research field trials at the NIAB-Cambridge site for the next 5-10 years. It will underpin delivery of the diverse breadth of crop research and pre-breeding activities carried out by NIAB, routinely undertaken in partnership with other universities, institutes and industrial partners. Therefore, it will provide a highly accessible route for UK crop researchers to deliver a substantial portfolio of high-quality research to deliver outcomes aligned with BBSRC's high-level themes in 'Tackling Strategic Challenges' ('Bioscience for Sustainable Agriculture and Food') and 'Building strong Foundations' ('Infrastructure' and 'Collaboration, Partnership and Knowledge Exchange'). The equipment requested will be accessible within the context of NIAB's extensive trials facilities and associated crop research capabilities and expertise - so maximising the potential for wide uptake by the crop R&D community. Aims and objectivesThe aim of this proposal is to purchase a Haldrup C85 plot combine to support UK crop resarch with impact. The combine will be equipped with on-board near-infrared (NIR) spectrometry (the first in use in UK agricultural research), allowing on-combine measurement of grain protein content, an important criteria for determining grain quality and end use. It will also provide automated straw weighing, allowing accurate assessment of crop biomass (an important indicator of the ability of a crop to efficiently convert energy into harvestable product), and include integrated GPS functionalities for guided route planning and GPS data stamping. Potential applications and benefitsNIAB delivers in excess of 100,000 arable and forage trial plots per year, of which 15,000 are combinable research plots. These are currently delivered using two Haldrup C85 plot combines, one of which is at the end of its replacement threshold. The requested equipment has new on-combine features not currently in use in the UK crop research sector. It will directly benefit NIAB's research delivery (currently £11 million of BBSRC investment), and catalyse access to high quality research field trials from public- and private-sector partners and collaborators.