University of York

Highly innovative research into plant and microbe-based renewable resources has led to important discoveries both in enzymes for clean manufacturing in the chemical industry and in non-food crops to regenerate rural economies. Amongst their many important discoveries have been: new abundant sources of nutritional supplements; novel routes to semi-synthetic painkillers; clean technologies for environmentally friendly manufacturing; biological clean-up tools for toxic explosives; and biosensors to detect illicit drug trafficking. Ongoing practical partnerships with business and consequent product developments place the university at the leading edge of agro-economics.