Project Sunshine builds upon extensive achievements in areas such as plant and microbial science; environmental biology; organic electronics and optoelectronics; and solar physics research.

Exploiting world-class research facilities, it brings together over 40 scientists (biologists, chemists, physicists and mathematicians) and draws upon the complementary skills of groups of engineers, social scientists and economists.

The aim is to understand how to develop sustainable food and energy security in a stable global environment, examining complete integrated systems – approaches derived from the expertise of scientists and engineers, in the context of the perspective offered by social scientists and economists.

Our research is supported by a broad range of funders, including:

• the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK (BBSRC)
• the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (EPSRC)
• the Natural Environment Research Council, UK (NERC)
• the Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK (STFC)
• the Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK (Defra)
• the Department of International Development, UK (DfID)
• the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
• the Grantham Foundation, USA
• the Inge Sugden Trust, UK