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Cambridge Global Food Security

An Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
 

Biography

Franziska Fischer is an agricultural scientist investigating disease resistance in wheat. She has previously worked as a Programme Manager and Senior Teaching Associate at the University, and she has gained experience in agribusiness and policy.

Franziska holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences majoring in Agro-Economics from the Technical University of Munich in Germany, and an MSc in Crop Improvement from the University of Nottingham.

Research

I investigate resistance in wheat to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). FHB is a fungal disease that occurs in every wheat growing region worldwide. In addition to reducing harvests, this disease also contaminates the remaining grain with mycotoxins that are dangerous to humans and animals. Agronomic measures for controlling FHB are insufficient and there is no completely resistant wheat variety.

In the UK, models predict an increase in FHB, due to climate change and changes in agronomic practices. Simultaneously, data indicates that resistance in UK wheat seems to have been decreasing. My project is helping us better understand FHB resistance in general, as well as potential sources of resistance among UK wheat varieties especially.

Researcher in Wheat Genetics.
Franziska Fischer

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