Plants in a chemical world

Botanic Garden

Plants are able to metabolise a surprisingly diverse range of synthetic chemicals including pesticides and pollutants. These chemical reactions are important in global agriculture, as the ability of crops to metabolise herbicides rapidly is the primary determining factor in selective weed control in all our major cereals. In addition these chemical transformations are of general interest to consumers as they determine the fate, and toxicity, of residues entering the food chain. Join us to hear Rob Edwards (Food and Environment Agency Chief Scientist) talk about the mechanisms by which plants metabolise synthetic chemicals and recent progress in understanding the underpinning biology and biochemistry.