Birmingham, UK, 5 November 2025 – CONNECTS-UK, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham and the Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (DNA-UK), will host its sixth Open Forum, “Ancient Wisdom, Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Science: Plant Biotechnology for Food Security,” on 7 November 2025, from 12:00 pm to 4:15 pm at the University of Birmingham (registration from 11:00 am).

As the world faces growing challenges from climate change, biodiversity loss, and global food insecurity, plant biotechnology offers powerful tools for building a sustainable agricultural future. This Open Forum will bring together leading scientists, policy experts, and innovators to explore how biotechnology—from transgenic crops to gene editing—can enhance food production, support regenerative systems, and integrate indigenous knowledge for a fairer and more resilient food system.

Through two panels and a roundtable discussion, the event will address critical questions including:

• How can cutting-edge research in plant biotechnology help mitigate climate change and food insecurity?
• How can innovation in agriculture be made inclusive, respecting traditional and indigenous practices?
• What role can new investment platforms and regenerative systems play in building trust and ensuring sustainability?

Welcome remarks will be delivered by Rob MacKenzie, Director of the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (tbc), with introductions from Niek Buurma (CONNECTS-UK/DNA-UK) and Annette Kliemann, Counsellor on Agriculture and Food at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom.

Speakers and Programme Highlights include:

• Panel 1: Scientific Frontiers in Plant Biotechnology
  Featuring UK and international experts Christine Foyer and Estrella Luna Diez (University of Birmingham), Dr. Luis Valledor Gonzalez  and Mónica Meijón (University of Oviedo), Dr. Ana Rita Sousa (Portugal),
• Panel 2: Biotechnology and Society – Impacts and Public Opinion
  With contributions from Constanza Robles Fumarola (Inanna, France), Bart Kuiter (Wageningen University & Research), and Carlos Magdalena (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) and Jasper Zwinkels, The Protein Project (Belgium)
• Roundtable Discussion:
  Exploring the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, chaired by Rosa Sanchez-Lucas (University of Birmingham) with the participation of Katrien Martens, Co-founder The Protein Project (Belgium), Michal Slota, Director of Scientific Affairs of the Institute of Microbiological Technologies (Turek, Poland) and Michael Garratt, Research Professor, University of Reading

The event is free and open to all, welcoming students, researchers, policymakers, and members of the public interested in biotechnology and food security. Networking sessions, a poster and video competition, and refreshments are included.

Travel reimbursements (up to £150) are available for participants traveling from outside Birmingham on a limited, first-come-first-served basis.
Details for the poster and video competition, including submission guidelines, are available here.

Event Details:
📍 University of Birmingham, School of Biosciences
🗓️ Thursday, 7 November 2025
🕛 12:00 pm – 4:15 pm (Registration from 11:00 am)

The forum is co-sponsored by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and  the Embassy of the Netherlands in the UK with leadership from the Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (Dna in UK) and the collaboration of SRUK/CERU.

For more details or to register, click here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anna Fumarola
Project Manager CONNECTS-UK
project.manager@connects-uk.org

Further details on the CONNECTS-UK website and its social media:  X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About CONNECTS-UK:

CONNECTS-UK stands for ‘Connecting European Communities Through Science in the UK’ and is a pioneering pan-EU project co-funded by the European Union (EU) that aims to advance scientific collaborations between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK) in the post-Brexit context. The initiative brings together scientific diasporas from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, and the non-profit organisation, Native Scientists, to foster cross-border research, promote knowledge exchange, and drive innovation. CONNECTS-UK serves as a catalyst for groundbreaking scientific collaborations and partnerships in diverse fields of study. The EU funding of around half a million euros not only reflects its commitment to advancing scientific progress but also underscores the importance of maintaining robust research ties between the EU and the UK despite the challenges posed by Brexit.

By creating a robust framework for cross-border collaboration, CONNECTS-UK will enable scientists, researchers, and innovators to overcome the barriers created by Brexit and tap into the vast wealth of expertise and resources available in both the EU and the UK to jointly tackle pressing global challenges. 

CONNECTS-UK is a partnership, open to new collaborators, between

• Association of Italian Scientists in the UK (AISUK)
• Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (DNU inUK)
• Finnish Science Society in the UK
• French Education and Research Network UK (FERN-UK)
• Native Scientists
• Polonium Foundation
• Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the UK (PARSUK)
• Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU)
• Association of Slovens Educated (VTIS)