Contact Dr Sofia Kourmpetli
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754903
- Email: S.Kourmpetli@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Food Quality
Background
Dr Sofia Kourmpetli is a Senior Lecturer in Plant Sciences and her current research is dedicated to enhancing seed quality through the integration of molecular genetics, genetic engineering, and advanced seed technology. Holding a PhD in Plant Sciences and an MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation from the University of Nottingham, she works closely with breeders and the seed industry to co-develop innovative solutions aimed at boosting crop resilience and increasing yields. Her current research investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying seed quality and longevity, as well as the complex dynamics of the seed microbiome.
Sofia currently leads several high-impact research initiatives, including an ARIA Opportunity Seed project, which focuses on developing direct seed and pollen transformaiton methods for plant genetic engineering, in order to bypass the tissue culture bottleneck and accelerate precision breeding. She also serves as the Co-Lead for a £3.4M BBSRC Prosperity Partnership project on enhancing potato dormancy and as the Cranfield PI for InnovateUK projects that focus on the development and trial of sustainable, natural seed coatings.
Sofia has a proven track record of collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to deliver practical solutions that enhance food system resilience and sustainability. From 2020 to 2024, she also served as the Network Liaison Manager for the BBSRC-funded Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network. In this role, she fostered partnerships between academia and industry to address critical challenges in food loss and waste.
Beyond her research, Sofia has held significant leadership roles at Cranfield, including Director of the Agrifood MSc Programme, and she remains active in the wider scientific community as a member of the BBSRC Pool of Experts (Committee B) and the Innovate UK Business Connect Agriculture Sector Advisory Group.
Research opportunities
PhD projects are available in a broad range of plant science-related subjects for motivated externally-funded or self-funded individuals. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact me to discuss research objectives and areas of interest.
Current activities
Currently running research projects include:
1.
1. Fast-track crop improvement: Breaking free from tissue culture. (Jul 2025 - Dec 2026), funded by ARIA
2. SECURESeed II: Scaling sustainable seed coatings for field trials. (Apr 2025 - Oct 2026), funded by InnovateUK, led by Marinatex Ltd in collaboration with PGRO and Elsoms Seeds Ltd.
3. Enhancing dormancy in potatoes. (Oct 2024 - Oct 2029), BBSRC Prosperity Partnership award with PepsiCo Ltd and Solynta Ltd.
4. Seed microbiome engineering: a route to sustainable agriculture. (Sept 2024 - Sept 2028), FooBiosystems DTP CASE studentship supported by Elsoms Seeds Ltd.
Completed Research Projects include:
1.
1. Improving tree seed and establishment to support Agroforestry and on-farm sustainability. (2022 - 2024), in collaboration with Elsoms Seeds Ltd., funded by InnovateUK and Defra.
2. SecureSeed: Sustainable, natural seed coatings delivering biologicals, increasing crop yields and reducing microplastic and chemical pollution. (2024-2025), funded by InnovateUK and led by MarinaTex Ltd.
3. Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network (2020 - 2024), funded by BBSRC.
4. Reducing seed losses and waste in umbelliferous crops. (2020 - 2024), FoodBiosystems DTP CASE studentship supported by Elsoms Seeds Ltd.
5. Understanding seed longevity in weeds and developing non-destructive methods for assessing and monitoring seed quality during storage. (2021 - 2025), FoodBiosystems DTP CASE studentship supported by Syngenta Ltd.
6. Rurban Revolution: Can ruralising urban areas through greening and growing create a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system? (2019-2021).
Funded by the Global Food Security Programme, BBSRC, ESRC, NERC and the Scottish Government.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- O’Brien C, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Terry LA & Alamar MC. (2026). Cold storage extends mango postharvest life by modulating abscisic acid levels and sugar composition. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 237
- Hockenhull I, Burgess PJ, Kourmpetli S, Park J, Shelton G, .... (2026). Evaluating sustainability indicators employed across European arable agricultural research. a systematic literature review. Environment, Development and Sustainability
- O’Brien C, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Landahl S, Terry LA, .... (2024). Non-destructive methods for mango ripening prediction: visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (visNIRS) and laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV). Postharvest Biology and Technology, 212
- Gutiérrez-Pozo M, Verheecke-Vaessen C, Kourmpetli S, Terry LA & Medina A. (2024). Effect of temperature, relative humidity, and incubation time on the mycotoxin production by Fusarium spp. responsible for dry rot in potato tubers. Toxins, 16(10)
- Walsh LE, Mead BR, Hardman CA, Evans DL, Liu L, .... (2022). Potential of urban green spaces for supporting horticultural production: a national scale analysis. Environmental Research Letters, 17(1)
- Evans DL, Falagán N, Hardman CA, Kourmpetli S, Liu L, .... (2022). Ecosystem service delivery by urban agriculture and green infrastructure – a systematic review. Ecosystem Services, 54(April)
- Kourmpetli S, Falagán N, Hardman C, Liu L, Mead B, .... (2022). Scaling-up urban agriculture for a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system: the postharvest benefits, challenges and key research gaps. International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 8(2/3)
- Hardman CA, Holden R, Davies J, Evans D, Falagán N, .... (2022). Growing or Greening? Does urban agriculture and nature exposure influence mood, perceived restorativeness and food preferences?. Appetite, 179
- Davies J, Walsh L, Mead B, Liu L, Falagán N, .... (2022). Scaling-up urban agriculture for a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system: the postharvest benefits, challenges and key research gaps. International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 8(2/3)
- Mead BR, Davies JAC, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Liu L, .... (2022). Urban agriculture in times of crisis: the role of home food growing in perceived food insecurity and well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown.. Appetite, 169
- Payen FT, Evans DL, Falagán N, Hardman CA, Kourmpetli S, .... (2022). How Much Food Can We Grow in Urban Areas? Food Production and Crop Yields of Urban Agriculture: A Meta-Analysis. Earth's Future, 10(8)
- Mead BR, Christiansen P, Davies JAC, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, .... (2021). Is urban growing of fruit and vegetables associated with better diet quality and what mediates this relationship? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey. Appetite, 163(August)
- Collings ER, Alamar MC, Bogaerts Márquez M, Kourmpetli S, Kevei Z, .... (2021). Improving the tea withering process using ethylene or UV-C. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(45)
- Mead BR, Davies EB, Davies J, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, .... (2021). A qualitative analysis of perceived opportunities and barriers to engaging in urban agriculture. Appetite, 157
- Mead BR, Christiansen P, Davies J, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, .... (2021). Is urban growing of fruit and vegetables associated with better diet quality and what mediates this relationship?. Appetite, 157
- Mead BR, Davies JAC, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Liu L, .... (2021). Growing your own in times of crisis: the role of home food growing in perceived food insecurity and well-being during the early COVID-19 lockdown. Emerald Open Research, 1(6)
- Kourmpetli S & Drea S. (2013). The fruit, the whole fruit, and everything about the fruit. Journal of Experimental Botany, 65(16)
- Kourmpetli S, Lee K, Hemsley R, Rossignol P, Papageorgiou T, .... (2013). Bidirectional promoters in seed development and related hormone/stress responses. BMC Plant Biology, 13(1)
- Grant-Downton R, Kourmpetli S, Hafidh S, Khatab H, Le Trionnaire G, .... (2013). Artificial microRNAs reveal cell-specific differences in small RNA activity in pollen. Current Biology, 23(14)
- Vosnakis N, Maiden A, Kourmpetli S, Hands P, Sharples D, .... (2012). AFILAMENTOUS FLOWERorthologue plays a key role in leaf patterning in opium poppy. The Plant Journal, 72(4)
- Hands P, Kourmpetli S, Sharples D, Harris RG & Drea S. (2012). Analysis of grain characters in temperate grasses reveals distinctive patterns of endosperm organization associated with grain shape. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(17)
- Bhattacharya A, Kourmpetli S, Ward DA, Thomas SG, Gong F, .... (2012). Characterization of the Fungal Gibberellin Desaturase as a 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase and Its Utilization for Enhancing Plant Growth . Plant Physiology, 160(2)
- Le Trionnaire G, Grant-Downton RT, Kourmpetli S, Dickinson HG & Twell D. (2011). Small RNA activity and function in angiosperm gametophytes. Journal of Experimental Botany, 62(5)
- Bhattacharya A, Kourmpetli S & Davey MR. (2010). Practical Applications of Manipulating Plant Architecture by Regulating Gibberellin Metabolism. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 29(2)
- Dijkstra C, Adams E, Bhattacharya A, Page AF, Anthony P, .... (2008). Over-expression of a gibberellin 2-oxidase gene from Phaseolus coccineus L. enhances gibberellin inactivation and induces dwarfism in Solanum species. Plant Cell Reports, 27(3)
- Mead BR, Davies JAC, Falagán N, Kourmpetli S, Liu L, .... Urban agriculture in times of crisis: the role of home food growing in perceived food insecurity and well-being during the early COVID-19 lockdown. Emerald Open Research, 3
Conference Papers
Books
- Geuten K, Viaene T, Vekemans D, Kourmpetli S & Drea S. (2013). Analysis of Developmental Control Genes Using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing In Becker A(ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology (975). Humana Press.
- Davey MR, Soneji JR, Rao MN, Kourmpetli S, Bhattacharya A, .... (2010). Generation and Deployment of Transgenic Crop Plants: An Overview In Kole C, Michler CH, Abbott AG & Hall TC (eds), Transgenic Crop Plants (1). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
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