HP3

Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet or HP³ is an ambitious vision to secure a safer, healthier and more sustainable future through the power of plant and microbial science.

HP³ is a vision unveiled by the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory. The vision outlines a revolution in plant and microbial sciences, integrating advances in genetics, genomics, structural biology, live cell imaging and computational biology leading to new levels of understanding. This will strengthen the position of the UK as a global leader in plant and microbial science.

HP³ addresses three critical challenges facing the planet which must be addressed in a rapidly closing window of time.

These are:

• Feeding the world – by sustainably increasing crop yields
• Combatting global health threats – such as antimicrobial resistance and viral pandemics
• Meeting the challenge of climate change – developing crops resilient to environmental fluctuations and requiring inputs that are low carbon

Investment in a new estate to replace buildings established in the 1960s will revolutionise the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory’s capabilities and thus maximise the potential benefits of research.

The JIC and TSL Next Generation Infrastructure programme is funded by the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, which invests in the facilities, equipment and resources that are essential for researchers and innovators to do ground-breaking work.

As well as transforming the existing capabilities of the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, both internationally recognised centres of excellence in plant and microbial science, the new hub also aims to become a net-zero carbon laboratory.

To help realise our HP³ vision, we have also received generous support from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the University of East Anglia, the John Innes Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Professor Graham Moore, Director of the John Innes Centre, said: “Securing this funding is a major step forward in realising our vision to improve collaborative working across the UK and overseas, helping us to provide a safer, healthier and more sustainable future through the power of plant and microbial science. As well as new laboratories, the investment includes a redevelopment of our plant growth facilities, which in conjunction with our existing field station, will improve our ability to study the effects of climate change.”

Professor Nick Talbot FRS, Executive Director of The Sainsbury Laboratory, said: “This transformational investment exemplifies the UK’s confidence in the future of our research institutes and their ability to transform global agriculture through innovation. It is imperative that agricultural production is transformed to become a net carbon zero activity that no longer relies on fossil fuels. The investment from UKRI will enable us to harness the collaborative environment on the Norwich Research Park, catalysing new research initiatives and creating a unique asset for UK science and innovation.”

• Find out more about our HP³ vision