The International Barley Hub (IBH), based at The James Hutton Institute, is bringing cutting-edge plant science into classrooms with the launch of the Barley iTAG programme.
For the first time, 13 schools across the UK will receive special experimental packs designed to give pupils aged 15 to 18 hands-on experience with genetics.
The IBH promotes excellence in barley science and collaboration across the scientific, industrial and commercial sectors, with the goal of generating new discoveries and translating them into wider economic, social and commercial benefits. Through their pioneering research, IBH scientists aim to improve the resilience and sustainability of barley crop production and mitigate the impacts of climate and environmental change.
The IBH is committed to the training and development of the next generation of researchers and has an outreach programme to inform and increase enthusiasm for plant sciences and the importance of barley science to agriculture and the food and drink industries.
The iTAG (Inheritance of Traits and Genes) programme was originally developed at Iowa State University and has already inspired thousands of students across the US and Europe. The UK rollout builds on the success of the Royal Society-funded Daffodil DNA Project, which the IBH also delivered, using existing equipment to make advanced genetics more accessible to schools.
Malcolm Macaulay, barley molecular geneticist at the Hutton, said, “The Barley iTAG project helps students uncover how DNA shapes the traits we see in living things.
“Using a unique population of barley plants, pupils will be able to grow their own samples, compare visible differences, and then use lab techniques such as DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a method used to amplify copies of specific DNA sequences rapidly to enable detailed study, and gel electrophoresis, a laboratory technique used to separate DNA based on its size and charge, to link traits back to genes.”
Jon Hale, a biology teacher at Bromsgrove School and creator of the popular Daffodil DNA project, said, “Patterns of inheritance can feel really abstract when taught through human disorders alone. The Barley iTAG project makes genetics tangible—students get to see and test the biology for themselves, linking traits to technology and real lab work.”
By combining plant biology, lab experiments, and real-world applications in farming and food, Barley iTAG aims to spark curiosity and encourage more young people to continue their journey into science.
The schools taking part in the iTAG programme are:
- Morrison's Academy, Crieff
- Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove
- Webster's High School, Kirriemuir
- St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh
- St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen
- Nairn Academy, Nairn
- Morgan Academy, Dundee
- Means Academy, Laurencekirk
- The Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth, London
- Cheam High School, Cheam, London
- Westray Junior High School, Orkney
- Cockermouth School, Cockermouth
- Luton Sixth Form College, Luton
The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading scientific organisation integrating a distinctive range of strengths in land, crop, waters, environmental and socio-economic science. It undertakes research for customers including the Scottish and UK Governments, the EU and other organisations worldwide. The institute has a staff of nearly 500 and 100 PhD students.
The Institute takes its name from the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment scientist, James Hutton, who is widely regarded as the founder of modern geology, climate scientist and an agricultural innovator. More information at www.hutton.ac.uk
The International Barley Hub (IBH) is a centre of excellence linking industry-focussed research with innovation, to both deliver immediate impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK and international agriculture, brewing and distilling, food and non-food sectors. The IBH is backed by a £35million investment as part of the Tay Cities deal.
It is underpinned by the research excellence of the James Hutton Institute and University of Dundee as well as international partners and the full range of the barley sector industry to deliver step changes in UK and global barley production and use, resilience across the supply and value chains from primary grower to end user and its expansion into new areas such as non-food uses.
The establishment of the IBH creates many opportunities, such as improving product quality, processability and competitiveness for companies using barley as a key ingredient in their products and expanding the variety and range of uses for this globally important crop, thereby protecting and adding to the considerable value it has within the global bioeconomy.
The Tay Cities Region Deal is a partnership between local, Scottish and UK governments and the private, academic and voluntary sectors which seeks to create a smarter and fairer Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross under the headings Inclusive Tay; Innovative Tay; International Tay; Connected Tay and An Empowered Tay. The Scottish Government and UK Government will each invest up to £150million in the Tay Cities Region Deal over 10 years, subject to final approval of robust business cases.
As of 30th September 2022, over £74million of Government investment has been released and almost 700 jobs have been created. This central investment from both Governments has the potential to lever in £400million of investment over 15 years, of which more than £123million has been secured by Projects. Full and further information on the progress the Deal has made to date on securing investment and jobs, can be found within the Annual Performance Report located on the Tay Cities Region Deal website - https://www.taycities.co.uk/publications