Francesca provides field and laboratory based technical support for research projects and commercial trials, focusing on the control of insect pests in soft fruit, top fruit and hops. She is based with the Pest and Pathogen Ecology team at East Malling in Kent.
Title: SWD Stop Spot - Control of Drosophila suzukii in fruit crops using Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)
Duraction: October 2021 – March 2023
Partners: BigSis, Berry Gardens
Funder: Innovate UK
Adam is a specialist in development of sustainable pest control strategies that minimise environmental impact.
Nitrogen response in wheat and other crops; sustainable agricultural practises; arbuscular mycorrhizae.
Wheat decision: to respond or not respond to available nitrogen; Duration: March 2022-2025; Partners: NIAB (lead); Funding: BBSRC
Graham's research is focused on understanding mechanisms that facilitate plant-environment interactions and increase crop resilience to climate change. These topics are approached using a combination of genetic and physiological tools, with a main focus on stomatal traits. Stomata are key gatekeepers for plant-environment interactions because they control gas-exchange at the leaf surface. They strongly contribute to water-use efficiency, photosynthetic processes, temperature regulation, hydraulic integrity, and organismal plasticity.
Peter joined NIAB in August 2022 and is part of an established team of research scientists, crop specialists and field/laboratory technicians, widely known for providing potato R&D, services and advice across the UK and beyond.
Below ground carbon sequestration potential of apple trees
Date: September 2019- September 2023
Partners: University of Reading, NIAB East Malling and CTP FCR
Funders: AHDB, BBSRC, Berry Gardens, M&S, NACM, WorldWide Fruits and The Worshipful Company of Fruiters.
Gary provides agronomy advice and technical services to farmers across the eastern region, working closely with NIAB’s Head of Membership Technical Services Andrew Watson and agronomist Stephen Keach on-farm in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Charles undertakes research and development of products, tools, and methods to enable more efficient and environmentally sound crop protection. He is interested in transferring technology and methods from other sectors into agriculture, utilising a range of scientific fields such as semio-chemistry, insect behaviour, image analysis (fluorescence, hyper/multi spectroscopy), remote sensing (aerial and ground), automation and precision agricultural technology to develop novel methods of crop protection.
Will is based in Somerset and manages NIAB Agronomy membership activities across the south-west alongside supporting our southern and western region agronomists.
