John Innes Centre Partnership Fortifies Pea Shoots with Vitamin B12

Key Takeaways

• Nutritional Breakthrough: The John Innes Centre partnership has produced pea shoots providing 100% of the Vitamin B12 RDA in a single 15-gram serving.
• Cost-Efficient Method: The fortification process is estimated to cost growers less than one penny (1p) per bag of salad.
• Proven Bioavailability: Specialized digestion experiments confirmed that the Vitamin B12 in the plants is accessible for human absorption.
• Aeroponic Innovation: The team utilized ultrasonic aeroponics to deliver B12 directly to the roots via a nutrient-rich mist.
• Commercial Stability: The fortified crops maintained their nutrient levels and shelf-life throughout standard cold storage and supply chain simulations.

John Innes Centre Leads Multi-Institutional B12 Research

A pioneering research-industry partnership led by the John Innes Centre has utilized indoor farming advances to grow Vitamin B12-fortified pea shoots. This collaboration, which includes the Quadram Institute, the University of Bristol, and specialists LettUs Grow, addresses a significant public health need by creating a plant-based source of a nutrient typically found only in animal products.

The research, published in Communications Biology, demonstrates a commercially viable route for farmers to supplement salad crops. By addressing “hidden hunger”—where caloric intake is sufficient but micronutrients are lacking—the John Innes Centre project offers a sustainable solution for those on plant-rich or restricted diets.

Harnessing Aeroponics for Nutrient Delivery

The team utilized aeroponic technology to supply a Vitamin B12-fortified solution to the roots of the plants. During an eight-day cultivation period, a thin film of nutrients formed on the roots, allowing the John Innes Centre researchers to exploit the plant's natural transport system to accumulate the vitamin in the leaves.

This method avoids the high costs associated with traditional chemical synthesis of B12. Because the plants act as “sponges” for the nutrient, the process remains efficient and scalable for commercial vertical farms and glasshouses.

“This novel fortification method can be done at extremely low cost to growers as a way of providing consumers with a cost-effective way of supplementing their diet with Vitamin B12 in a form that their body can use,” said Professor Antony Dodd, a group leader at the John Innes Centre.

Scientific Validation and Public Health Impact

Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve function and DNA synthesis, yet it is naturally produced only by bacteria. With roughly 6% of the UK population deficient in B12, the John Innes Centre sought a solution that moves beyond traditional tablet supplements, which are often less effective when taken without food.

John Innes Centre on Future Applications

The multidisciplinary approach used by the John Innes Centre and its partners ensures that the fortified pea shoots are not only nutritious but also commercially robust. Testing confirmed that the B12 persists through cold storage, ensuring the product reaches consumers with its nutritional profile intact.

“The solution came not through engineering the plant but by simply exploiting the ability of the plant to take up B12 when applied,” noted Dr. Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development at the John Innes Centre. “It is an innovative approach that highlights the strength of the partnership across the Norwich Research Park.”

“The exciting thing about this project is that it is the first time the enhanced yield potential of aeroponics has been combined with the nutrition enhancement of B12 fortification in a way that can be scaled up to commercial volumes,” said Jack Farmer, Head of Research and Development at LettUs Grow.

The team is now investigating further adaptations of this technique, including the potential for biofortifying crops with other essential minerals like iron.