Asahi UK and the Worshipful Company of Brewers have teamed up with the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and the University of Warwick to fund two PhD research projects looking at how to develop sustainable approaches to British hop production in a bid to stop the further demise of the UK’s hop growing industry.

Professor John Clarkson said: 'Through these PhD projects, and the partnership between the University of Warwick, the Royal Agricultural University, and industry funders, we will boost the environmental sustainability of British hop production.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Warwick Crop Centre, in the School of Life Sciences, to apply our expertise in soilborne fungal disease systems to tackle the serious problem of Verticillium wilt and help develop new solutions. It’s giving us a fantastic chance to expand our science into new research and start a new collaboration.'

Press Release (pdf) (30 October 2024)