Following the strategic review conclusions presented to farmers at the BBRO Winter Conference in February 2012, the BBRO are now pleased to announce the first stage of recommendations are complete.  This includes the appointment of Dr Mark Stevens, a leading Sugar Beet Scientist and the establishment of a new Research & Development Board, responsible for reviewing and guiding the levy funded research.

Dr Mark Stevens has been appointed to the role of lead Scientist with effect from the 1 December 2012 and joins the BBRO from Rothamsted Research, where he has specialised in crop protection and beet research over the last 20 years.

Colin MacEwan, Head of the BBRO, said:  “The strategic review carried out in 2011 helped identify key areas where improvements could be made to bring more direct accountability, increased flexibility and greater efficiency to operations of the BBRO through changes to the old Board structure. Equally, we wanted to ensure we secured scientific expertise in the field of sugar beet research to help foster and invest in expertise for the future of our industry.  I am therefore delighted Dr Mark Stevens is joining us as he will bring with him a wealth of experience in sugar beet research, as well as being well respected by growers for the work he has undertaken to date on behalf of the BBRO”.

In addition, the BBRO has also established a new dedicated Research & Development Board, providing an independent panel of experts to give both oversight of BBRO funded research and provide decisions on the selection of research projects to be undertaken.  The Board members are Mike May (Independent Researcher), Pat Turnbull (Independent Agronomist), Mark Culloden (British Sugar head of Agriculture Operations), Richard Nicholls (British Sugar head of Commercial Agriculture), Mark Fletcher (Grower) and Douglas Inglis (Grower).

The BBRO continues to be committed to providing world-class research to the British beet sugar industry and delivering best value for money for levy payers.

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