Centre for Novel Agricultural Products

Using world-leading bioscience to provide sustainable supplies of food, energy and chemicals.

CNAP research is aimed at ensuring sustainable food production and enabling a shift from reliance on fossil fuels to a bioeconomy, with energy and chemicals produced from renewable biological resources.

We are tackling the critical challenges of adapting to climate change, increasing environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, by exploiting the power of nature.

CNAP research includes discovering biosynthetic pathways of high-value chemicals in plants for pharmaceutical and industrial use, novel and improved microbial enzymes for production of low carbon fuels from biomass, and development of crop varieties with increased yield, resilience, and traits for new industrial or environmental applications.

Contact us

Centre for Novel Agricultural Products

cnap@york.ac.uk
Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD

Professor Katherine Denby, CNAP Director

Established

We have been using science to address environmental, societal and industrial challenges for over 20 years.

Winner

We were awarded The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

Research and innovation focus areas

Natural product biosynthesis

Low carbon fuels and chemicals

Algal metabolism and biotechnology

Crops for a sustainable planet

Collaborate

We work with a broad range of local, national and international partners, including other research institutes, industry, government and charitable organisations, to deliver scientific breakthroughs and impact.

Our researchers have experience in collaborative and co-funded grant proposals, collaborative PhD and Masters research, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, contract research and consultancy.

Work with us

Research and training opportunities

CNAP offers a fantastic opportunity to work in an inspiring, collegial and multidisciplinary environment alongside internationally recognised researchers.

We provide a supportive environment for independent research fellows with a strong track record in fellowship success and subsequent career development for fellows.

For early career researchers CNAP offers a range of postgraduate research degree programmes. We also lead Plant BioDesign, a UKRI engineering biology doctoral programme.

Explore our postgraduate study and fellowship opportunities

Networks

We played a leading role in BBSRC Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBBs) bringing industry and academia together to drive innovation in the bioeconomy.

We led two of the Phase I NIBBs and two of the Phase II NIBBs: