School of Agriculture

Professor Davies has considerable experience of crop production systems and crop science, and has developed a particular understanding of agricultural development. He has had extensive research, training and extension experience both in the UK and overseas. His international experience has been gained mainly in Asia; in Central and Eastern Europe and, on occasion, in South America. Professor Davies is well known in the UK crop protection industry, and parts of the food sector, for his expertise in education and training development. He is from a farming background, and has a particular interest in technology transfer and the application of new technology in agriculture and food production.

Professor Davies has, in particular, experience of commercial farm development for training and extension, and Agritourism use. Recent involvements include food chain analysis and quality assurance.

Key Experience

• Institution building in education - Universities and colleges teaching agriculture (Malaysia, Indonesia, Poland, Belarus). Education development programmes (various countries).
• Farming and crop systems development (China, Japan, Czech Republic), cereal crop improvement (UK, Mexico, China)
• Agro technology development (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil)
• Rural development (China, Malaysia, Bangladesh)
• Food chain development and quality assurance - Government and private sector projects (Malaysia, Australia)
• Post-harvest biology and storage systems - in particular vegetable crop physiology and pathology (UK)

Qualifications

• PhD Vegetable Production and Storage, University of East Anglia, 1976
• MSc Plant Pathology, University of Exeter, 1972
• BSc (Hons) Agricultural Botany, University of Wales, 1971

Membership of Professional Societies:

• Chartered Biologist
• Fellow of the Institute of Biology
• Fellow of the Winston Churchill Trust
• Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England
• Fellow of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany
• Member of the Tropical Agriculture Association
• Member of the British Society of Plant Pathologists
• Member of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association: Board of Directors Member (1996 - 2000) and Strategy Group Member (for 2001).
• Member of the FAO Asian Farm Systems Management Network (to 2000)

Previous Employment Record

• 1979-?- Harper Adams Agricultural College, Senior Lecturer in Crop Production
• 1975-1979-Writtle Agricultural College, Lecturer in Horticulture
• 1972-1975-Research Officer, Frigoscandia Ltd
• University of East Anglia, Teaching Demonstrator

Project Experience

• Development of integrated cropping systems (European Union/Ministry of Agriculture)
• Development of agricultural enterprises and agribusiness (industry; governments)
• Disease management in cereals
• Grain quality in cereals (Home Grown Cereals Authority Programme)
• Improvement of organic cereal production (Oldacre Foundation Project)
• Technology transfer in crop protection (European Union/agrochemical industry)
• Institution building - colleges and universities teaching agriculture (Malaysia, Indonesia, Poland, Belarus)
• Agribusiness development (Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, USA)
• Agrotechnology development (Singapore, Malaysia)
• Rural development (China, Malaysia, Bangladesh)
• Farming and crop systems development (China, Japan, Czech Republic)
• Agricultural marketing (Thailand, Hungary, Poland)
• Education development programmes (various countries - short term)
• Modern Farm Business Development (Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia) 2000 and 2001
• Assessment of wheat production systems and projects for wheat improvement in China (Ministry of Agriculture (UK and China) 1999
• Development of farming systems in the Mekong Delta (British Council & Vietnam Government Project) 1998
• Prospects for rice farming systems improvement (Farmers Club) 1998
• Development of sustainable organic farming systems (MOA Foundation) 1997
• Assessment of natural resources and land-use for agrotourism development (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) RED initiative) 1996
• Master plan formulation for regional development, including integrated farming systems and agrotourism (UNDP & STAR programme with Wuhan Peoples Association) 1995 to date
• Programme support for agribusiness initiatives (USAID Agribusiness Development Programme) 1995-97
• Prospects for Agrotechnology Park Development (Singapore & Selangor State Governments) 1994 & 1995
• Development of commercial farming and vocational agriculture training centres (British Council, Overseas Development Authority & Government of Malaysia) 1987-1994

Training Experience:

• Approaches and curriculum development for postgraduate agribusiness development (University Putra Malaysia) 2000
• Institution strengthening for higher agricultural education in universities through an 'encouraging enterprise programme' (British Council & Government of Indonesia) 1995-1998
• Development of crop production teaching programmes in higher agricultural education (British Council & University of Prague) 1992-1996: Individual study and later a Visiting Professorship, Czech Republic
• Prospects for agricultural education development (European Union EFFECT Study through British Council, for NUFFIC) 1994
• Prospects for agricultural marketing and agribusiness extension, and related training approaches for farmers (British Council & Government of Thailand) 1992
• Analysis of prospects for agricultural development investment, education and training (Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK) 1989-1990, Poland

Publications

Approximately 170 publications - including books, scientific papers, articles and reports. A full list can be provided on request.

Languages

• English (mother tongue)
• French