The John Innes Foundation (JIF) is delighted to announce significant new funding for the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development (NISD), with a £614,000 grant to support impact-oriented research projects as part of the Institute’s second five-year phase.
Building on success
Launched in 2021, NISD brings together expertise across the natural and social sciences to deliver research and impact for global public good. Its first five years saw the development of strong partnerships and pioneering research programmes addressing the pressing challenges of food security and climate change.
The new phase will focus on turning this research into tangible outcomes. Projects will help farmers in South Asia, East Africa and the UK adapt to a changing climate. Work will include developing new crops and providing hands-on engagement to ensure farmers can adopt the best solutions for their local needs.
Professor Nitya Rao, Director of NISD, said:
“We are delighted with this recognition of our achievements during Phase 1 of NISD. The projects funded by JIF for Phase 2 will help build climate-resilient agriculture and local food systems in East Africa, South Asia and the UK.”
Commitment to real-world impact
Announcing the funding at the 2025 John Innes Foundation Annual Lecture, Peter Innes, Chair of JIF, reflected on the progress made since NISD was established:
“The John Innes Foundation takes great pride in our initiative to launch the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development five years ago. So much has been achieved. We are delighted to be able to support the Institute as it focuses on real-world impact in the coming five years. The projects we have agreed to fund will impact the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farmers.”
Professor David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, also welcomed the announcement:
“I would like to thank the John Innes Foundation for their generous support to the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development. This new funding will cement the important transdisciplinary research links on food and agriculture across the Norwich Research Park and enable impact on a massive scale.”
Strengthening collaboration
NISD is hosted at UEA’s School of Global Development and works closely with partners across the Norwich Research Park, including the John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the Quadram Institute, and the Earlham Institute. Together, these organisations bring world-class expertise in agriculture, food and health.
Recent visits, such as to ICARDA in Morocco, highlight the Institute’s role in building partnerships that can deliver climate-resilient agriculture in practice. With its global reach, NISD is helping to ensure that innovative science is translated into real benefits for communities facing the greatest challenges.
This latest grant demonstrates JIF’s long-standing mission to advance the acquisition and application of knowledge about plants and microbes for societal, environmental and commercial benefit. For over a century, the Foundation has supported research and teaching in plant science – and through NISD, that knowledge is now being applied to create more sustainable and equitable food systems worldwide.