Safeguarding UK Food Biosecurity: The Power of Rapid Crop Disease Testing

The threat of crop diseases poses a significant challenge to food biosecurity in the United Kingdom. With agriculture playing a vital role in ensuring a stable food supply, it is imperative to address this issue promptly and effectively. Thankfully, a revolutionary solution has emerged through rapid molecular biology testing. This cutting-edge technology offers a game-changing approach to swiftly identify and combat crop diseases, safeguarding our food production and enhancing overall biosecurity.

Crop diseases, caused by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, can wreak havoc on agricultural yields, leading to significant economic losses and disruptions in the food supply chain. Like any other nation, the UK is not immune to these threats. Outbreaks of crop diseases can decimate entire harvests, compromise food quality, and diminish the nutritional value of our produce. Moreover, the spread of diseases can have devastating long-term effects, jeopardising the sustainability and resilience of our agricultural systems.

Traditionally, identifying and diagnosing crop diseases has been a time-consuming process, often requiring laboratory analysis and specialised expertise. This delay in obtaining accurate results has hindered rapid response measures and compromised containment efforts. However, the advent of rapid molecular biology testing has revolutionised the field by providing quick and reliable diagnostics on-site, empowering farmers, agronomists, and policymakers to make informed decisions swiftly. MicroDetect’s rapid test can provide a result in 24 hours upon receipt of samples. 

Rapid molecular biology testing has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against crop diseases. By leveraging the latest advancements in genetic analysis, and thus targeted disease-causing pathogen specificity, these tests can detect the presence of pathogens with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This breakthrough technology enables early detection, allowing for immediate and applicable intervention to prevent the spread of diseases and mitigate their impact. Timely identification also helps farmers implement targeted treatments and management strategies, minimising crop losses and optimising yields.

With rapid molecular biology testing, farmers gain the ability to proactively monitor their crops, detecting potential diseases at the earliest stages. By regularly testing their crops, they can identify emerging threats, even before visible symptoms appear, and take swift action to prevent their spread. Moreover, these tests provide critical data to agricultural authorities, should they choose to do widespread testing, facilitating the implementation of targeted disease control measures at a broader scale. This collaborative approach helps protect not only individual farms but also the entire agricultural ecosystem of the UK.

The threat of crop diseases to food biosecurity in the UK is a pressing concern that demands urgent attention. By embracing the power of rapid testing, we can fortify our agricultural systems, enhance our ability to respond swiftly to outbreaks and safeguard the integrity and productivity of our food supply. With these innovative testing solutions, we can overcome the challenges of crop diseases and pave the way for a more resilient, sustainable and secure future in agriculture. 

Prof. Ruth Massey, B.A. (mod), PhD – Chief Scientific Officer


Ruth has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Trinity College Dublin. She has worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the UK at both the Universities of Oxford and Bath.

Her first independent position as Principal Investigator was in the Zoology Department in Oxford, where she set up her first lab, which subsequently moved to Bath in 2007. In 2017 Ruth moved to the University of Bristol and, in 2019, was promoted to Professor of Microbial Pathogenicity.

Ruth and her research team have been working on developing the testing processes described here for the past seven years, and she is now translating this for use in several clinical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural settings.

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Dr. Marcia Boura, BSc, MSc, PhD – Head of Development


Marcia has a background in clinical diagnostics, having worked in a hospital laboratory and completed an MSc in Emergent Infectious Diseases before commencing her PhD in Microbiology, at the University of Reading.

After completing her PhD she worked as the Senior Research Scientist in the team developing rapid molecular diagnostic tests. She led the development of a crops diagnostic test from conception through to field trial, before moving on to develop the technology for use in the human and veterinary clinical diagnostics sector.

Marcia’s experience of diagnostic test development for infectious diseases allows her to lead the scientific research within MicroDetect with focus and confidence.

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Tamryn Hassel, BSc, MBA – Business Management


Tamryn holds an MBA from the University of Bath. She has worked for over 16 years in the quality sector of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, putting her in a unique position to understand the challenges associated with working in a highly regulated environment and how to validate scientific methodologies to meet regulatory requirements. She was initially involved in developing the rapid test methodology before refocusing on her consultancy businesses which continue to operate with great success. 

With her proven track record in the setting up and successful running of businesses, she is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the business. 

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