Scientists at The James Hutton Institute have found that a fungus hiding inside common grasses could play a major role in helping UK farmers tackle some of their toughest challenges.
Known as Epichloë, this endophytic fungus lives inside plant tissues, and certain species quietly offer a surprising range of benefits, from natural pest protection to increased drought resistance.
Plant Pathologist, Lorena Rangel, explains, “Once inside the plant, Epichloë acts like a built-in shield, helping the plant tolerate stress, resist disease, and even deter pests, all without repeated spraying. That means fewer chemicals, lower costs, and potentially healthier soils and ecosystems.”
Certain strains of Epichloë are used in pastures in New Zealand and the United States, where they have helped grasslands thrive by producing natural chemicals that deter insects. Importantly, modern versions are non-toxic and safe for livestock. In the UK, however, Epichloë has not yet made its way into commercial farming, even though it has been found to occur naturally in British wild grasses.
This is mainly because the UK hasn’t faced the same severe insect problems or livestock illnesses that have forced farmers in other countries to act but with climate change causing more unpredictable weather, and the loss of chemical pesticides making pest control harder, UK farmers are looking for new tools to incorporate into their integrated pest management schemes. Epichloë might be one of them.
Although Epichloë occurs naturally in some wild UK grasses, it has not yet been intentionally added to pasture or cereal crops. That could change as farmers look for ways to reduce chemical use while keeping yields high. This fungus could be especially useful in cereal crops like wheat, barley, and oats, which together contribute £4 billion to the UK economy.
However, its use is not without risks. If mismanaged, some strains of Epichloë can produce toxins that could harm beneficial insects or even animals. There is also concern about how introducing it on a large scale might affect ecosystems or biodiversity, so experts stress the importance of tight regulation, careful testing, and using only well-understood, safe strains.
Currently, UK rules around fungal products like Epichloë are not clear-cut, but other countries offer models to follow. New Zealand’s farming industry has a dedicated group that oversees testing and approval of Epichloë strains to be used commercially.
As climate change threatens more frequent extreme weather events, farmers will need every tool available to keep crops healthy and productive. Epichloë is not a silver bullet but as a natural, low-input solution, it could become a key player in pasture and cereal management. With the right safeguards, this fungus could help the UK build a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
Further information is available here. https://doi.org/10.1079/planthealthcases.2025.0002
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