Mission Statement

The mission of Rothamsted Research is to be recognised internationally as a primary source of first-class scientific research and new knowledge that addresses stakeholder requirements for innovative policies, products and practices to enhance the economic, environmental and societal value of agricultural land.

Rothamsted Research will accomplish its Mission through research to:

• Improve crop quality and the sustainability of production systems
• Develop environment-enhancing management practices for agricultural land and associated habitats
• Predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture and other land-based activities
• Develop practices and products that will reduce fossil-fuel inputs to, and greenhouse gas emissions from, managed land
• Protect and improve soil quality
• Exploit crops as renewable substitutes for fossil carbon feedstocks
• Conserve and utilise biodiversity
• Elevate society’s confidence in science for agriculture and the environment

Rothamsted Research is a centre of international multidisciplinary scientific excellence primarily (although not exclusively) of relevance to: crops and products from crops; crop and soil management practices; and the diverse interactions that occur between crops, other organisms and the physical environment. Rothamsted Research is the only institute in the UK that integrates mathematics, physics, chemistry, ecology and crop sciences (including: genetics, pathology, entomology and soil science) to contribute predictive understanding and scientifically-sound options for the maintenance of economically and environmentally sustainable systems of exploiting arable land. Additionally, some areas of Rothamsted Research research are relevant to livestock disease, human health and the global environment. Rothamsted Research generates new knowledge and understanding of biological systems that will maintain or increase productivity of agricultural land in parallel with enhanced economic, social and environmental benefits. Rothamsted Research makes significant contributions to the introduction of new policies and practices based on innovative ecological and environmental sciences together with novel products based on high quality biomolecular sciences. Rothamsted Research contributes to the definition and implementation of “Best Practice” in the arable land-use sector through provision of: a predictive understanding of managed ecosystems; sustainable crops and crop products; high-efficiency, low-input crop management practices.

Rothamsted Research actively seeks collaboration with scientific partners, nationally and internationally, and with organisations with whom partnership will lead to the effective translation of science into practice.

Aerial view of Rothamsted Research