NUCNet Project Lead Mark Chapman, University of Southampton, has recently contributed to articles in the Financial Times and The i Paper exploring the potential for novel and underutilised crops in the UK.

In the Financial Times article Dry British summers raise hopes of homegrown chickpeas, published on 19 September 2026, Mark discusses the opportunities for growing crops such as chickpeas and lentils in the UK.

The article highlights the importance of exploring a wider diversity of crops as we look towards more resilient future food systems, an issue at the heart of NUCNet’s work.

Mark also spoke to The i Paper for its article The protein-packed superfoods of the future – that you could grow in your garden, published on 2 October 2026.

Here, he discusses the potential adoption of alternative protein-rich crops and the role that more drought-tolerant plants, including lablab and lupin beans, could play in helping UK gardens and farms adapt to a changing climate.

Together, the two articles highlight growing interest in crops that are currently underutilised in the UK and their potential contribution to more diverse and resilient food and farming systems.

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