Endophytes are naturally occurring microorganisms that live inside plants. They can improve crop growth, increase resistance to pests and diseases, and help plants cope with environmental stress. Around the world, endophyte-containing crops are already being used to improve plant health and agricultural sustainability.
In Scotland and the wider UK, there is growing interest in these products. However, it is currently unclear, depending on the purpose of the product, which government authority is responsible for regulating plants that intentionally contain endophytes. Without clarity, bringing such products to market may be problematic and hinder the safe exploitation of these innovative tools that can support plant health.

Through stakeholder interviews and workshop, this project seeks to:
- Identify which UK or devolved authority is responsible for approving endophyte-containing plants under various scenarios.
- Understand how current regulations apply, and where gaps exist.
- Build consensus among regulators, policy-makers, researchers, and industry.
- Provide recommendations to ensure that Scotland is ready to make the most of endophyte technology in the future.