NPS is a spin-out from the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, which together form one of the world’s leading plant science research institutes.

The company was established by Profs Jonathan Jones and Cathie Martin as the UK’s first GM crop company. Their aim was to find ways of commercialising their research into plants with increased levels of health-giving compounds such as antioxidants.

Now, backed by an experienced group of investors and advisors, NPS will develop its dark purple-fleshed tomatoes into products which will give consumers the benefit of their increased levels of anthocyanins.