1. UK-BRAZIL COLLABORATION IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest running agricultural research centre in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for over 170 years.

2. Rothamsted Research
State-of-the-art, world-class, scientific research: to deliver knowledge, innovation and new practices to increase agricultural productivity within sustainable systems.
‘Sustainable intensification’:
increased productivity
from less land
with less water
with less energy
with less emissions
~600 people (35+ nationalities, 65 students); 270+ publications per year; Budget: ~ £35 million per year

3. Agricultural science with impact
Improved soil management techniques and policy reforms that could reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in China by 60% by 2030.
Omega-3 oils produced in plants
Over 160,000 smallholders using Rothamsted companion cropping systems in Eastern Africa
The world’s longest continuous experiment: 1843 to present day
Discovery of numerous herbicides and insecticides
Synthetic pyrethroids still account for more than 15% of pest control agents used worldwide.

4. Research Collaborations in Brazil
Why we collaborate
Strong UK-Brazil interactions in Industrial biotech and agriculture
Strength in developing & applying agricultural innovation
High-quality scientific partners
BBSRC strategic investment
What we work on
Soy, Maize, Wheat, Rice, Bioenergy, Livestock
Soil management & health
Environmental sciences
Crop protection
Yield
Nutrition & quality
Embrapa
Collaborations with 13 different institutes
Universities
Partnerships with 18 universities: vast majority in Sao Paulo State.

5. Support mechanisms for UK-Brazil collaboration
Science without Borders: Brazilian scientific exchange scheme
Embrapa: Labex at Rothamsted Research and IFR
EU: although significant decline in Brazilian involvement in H2020
GCRF: hope for significant opportunities within ODA spend
BBSRC: Partnering & Workshop awards
BBSRC/ Embrapa: Research projects on wheat
BBSRC/ Newton Fund: Centres for Agricultural Nitrogen and Sustainable Agriculture
BBSRC/ FAPESP: biannual call for projects; 14 projects since 2010

6. BBSRC-FAPESP (UK - Brazil) grant 2013-2017
Defining the genetic and semiochemical basis of tick resistance in cattle
André Sarria, Ph.D.
Biointeractions and Crop Protection
Rothamsted Research

7. Effects of Tick infestation in cattle
Weight loss
Decreased feed efficiency
Anaemia
Secondary infections
Decreased milk production
Mastitis
Death

8. Methods for controlling Ticks
Traditionally, pesticides have been the main pest control strategy, but this approach has several issues:
 High Cost;
Environmental contamination;
Resistance to insecticides.
Apart from cost and logistical issues associated with treatment, in ticks for example the primary concern is the evolution acaricide resistance ticks, which occurs faster than development of new acaricides.
Are we right to trust the safety and quality of milk and meat?
New alternative methods are urgently required

9. Brazilian cattle breeds
Holstein - Friesian
Gir
Nelores
Girolandos

10. Tick resistance in Brazilian cattle
Highly Susceptible
Highly resistant
Resistant
Suscetible
This is similar to how some of us are attractive to mosquitos and some of us are not.
We seek to understand the genetics and semiochemistry underlying these traits

11. Chemical collection from Girolandos cattle

12. Chemical analysis Trace of chemical compounds produced by the skin
Susceptible
Holstein- Friesians
Resistant
Nelore

13. Conclusions and future work
Resistance compounds identified and synthesised
Prototype application of slow release repellent compound impregnated into a collar and tested on dogs showed reduction in tick infestation.
Roslin institute have identified genetic traits underlying the resistance mechanism in Nelores cattle
Next steps
Field trials of repellent compounds and collars with cows
Development of a commercial product,
Introduction of genetic markers for resistance genes into cattle breeding programmes.

14. Thank you

15. Global Food Security: Challenges
Access to safe reliable, adequate and nutritious food
Population rising; novel political and economic pressures; increasing competition for land, water and energy
Decline in crop yield improvements
Long-term production growth is threatened by water and fertilizer scarcity, new diseases and Climate Change
Political instability directly linked to food production and prices.