Cereal crop researchers will be discussing their work over coffee and croissants at a science breakfast in the run up to the Imperial Festival.

Professor Pietro Spanu and his team study the impact of pests on cereal crops. With a growing global population and a changing climate, scientists need to find ways to secure crops against disease.

“Cereal crops such as wheat, and barley are staples which play a primary role in feeding the global population. When these crops fail, people go hungry,” said Professor Spanu.

“Our research aims to understand how fungi attack cereal crops and what we can do to protect them.”

”These fungi may gain access to important food resources by subverting the “software” that controls plant immunity. We don’t know how they do this. We hope that working this out, will help us to keep a little more food on our table”

The event provides an informal way to meet Professor Spanu and his team, and learn more about their cutting-edge research, whilst enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

The science breakfast takes place at Le Pain Quotidien on Exhibition Road from 8.30 to 9.30 on Friday, 8 May. Tickets for the event are available via Eventbrite. They cost £6 per person and include coffee and a croissant.

This breakfast is part of the Imperial Festival, a weekend of free science and arts activities, including tours, talks, workshops, dance, music and hands-on demonstrations.