About Rothamsted Research

The multi-site Rothamsted Research comprises the largest groupings of agricultural scientists in the UK. Our different sites have illustrious histories and continue to maintain the highest international reputations for the quality of their research and associated postgraduate training. Such recognition comes from both our scientific peers and the diverse biology-based industries we serve.

Rothamsted: Rothamsted is the oldest agricultural research station in the world. It was founded in 1843 by John Bennet Lawes who set up field experiments with his collaborator Joseph Henry Gilbert to study the chemical composition and manurial treatment of soils These world renowned long-term experiments the so-called 'Classical Experiments' include the well-known continuous winter wheat experiment first begun on Broadbalk field in 1843. Lawes and Gilbert's 57-year research partnership laid the foundations of agricultural science in general and crop nutrition in particular. But their influence went much further - the need to handle and analyse the accumulated field data from these long-term experiments led in the early 1900s to the development of statistics as a scientific discipline. Today, the 'Classical Experiments' and the archived resources they have given, provide researchers worldwide with a unique asset that is used in studies of agricultural sustainability, environmental pollution and climate change impacts.

Rothamsted has also made other significant contributions to world science including for example, virology, nematology, pesticide resistance and the discovery of the pyrethroid insecticides, which now account for some 20% of world sales of insecticides. Nearly 500 staff are based at Rothamsted.

Broom's Barn: Established on its Suffolk base in 1962, Broom's Barn with its 50 staff, is largely devoted to work on the sugar-beet crop. The Station works closely with this sector and is largely funded through an industrial levy (via the Sugar Beet Research and Education Fund). Broom's Barn's research has provided the UK sugar-beet industry with a range of new techniques to improve production efficiency, crop quality and overall profitability.