A Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) carried out by the government has declared Warwick HRI, part of the University of Warwick, as a top food research centre.

The results of the 2008 RAE exercise have revealed that Warwick HRI was the top ranked university group for research quality in the agriculture, food and veterinary area, as 60 per cent of the research was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Professor Simon Bright, director and head of the department, said: “Warwick HRI became part of the University of Warwick in 2004. These results confirm the department as a powerhouse of fundamental science, as well as recognising its success in applied research and knowledge transfer, reinforcing the decision to join a leading university (Warwick was ranked seventh overall in the top ten for research quality) and invest in science quality.

“I firmly believe that having world-leading research, for instance on the genes and processes involved in the interaction of plants with pathogens, brings a new dimension to solving the practical questions of disease forecasting and control in a growers field.

“This result supports our strategy to develop a full spectrum of science activities and technology platforms to deliver outstanding results for our stakeholders.”

Warwick HRI researches and teaches plant and environmental sciences, supported by core capabilities in mathematical biology, biometrics, genomics and bioinformatics to improve horticulture and protect the environment.