I joined Grounded Research about three months ago as a Research Executive. It’s a bit of a shift in direction for me, but one that feels like a natural fit. What I’ve always enjoyed most is working in agriculture and horticulture, alongside farmers and growers, and using robust, meaningful data to help drive positive change across the sector.
After studying Environmental Biology at the University of Nottingham, I began my career at ADAS on their graduate programme as a horticultural consultant. It was my first real experience in the sector, and I was fortunate to learn from colleagues with decades of experience. I specialised in soft fruit and hardy nursery stock, working across a wide range of research projects. Much of my time was spent on AHDB-funded work, particularly around weed control and plant protection, but one standout project was the raspberry variety trials. Not a bad way to spend your working day.
After a few years, I decided to pursue my ambition of becoming an agronomist and joined Berry Gardens as a soft fruit agronomist. I worked with some incredibly progressive growers in Staffordshire, supporting them to produce high-quality fruit within integrated pest management systems. It was a brilliant opportunity to combine my interests in horticulture and the environment, along with plenty of hands-on, practical problem-solving (and, inevitably, more raspberry and strawberry sampling).
During Covid, I moved into a technical development role with a biologicals manufacturer, focusing on sustainable crop protection. Working in a small, dynamic team, I helped bring new technologies to the UK market, collaborating closely with forward-thinking growers to integrate biological products into their programmes. It was an exciting time, both for the business and the sector more broadly, and I had the chance to work across a wide range of crops, from field veg to top fruit, broadening my perspective beyond soft fruit.
Joining Grounded Research felt like the right next step. What stood out to me was the breadth of work across the food and farming system, and the focus on generating insight that leads to meaningful, real-world outcomes. The variety of projects keeps things interesting, and the close connection with the farming community is something I really value.
I’ve always been naturally curious and enjoy digging deeper into complex topics, so the role suits me well. In my first few months, I’ve explored everything from lameness management in dairy systems to stakeholder perspectives on pesticide resistance, as well as gaining a better understanding of regenerative agriculture and even learning a thing or two about tractors.
I’m really looking forward to working with clients and farmers alike to deliver insight that drives meaningful, practical change across the sector.