Debbie Short joins us as Non Executive Director

Debbie is an Agronomist by trade and holds a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Wales. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified, a Governor of Harper Adams University, and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Debbie spent 20 years as a commercial farm agronomist in the North West of England before moving to Cambridge University Farm, where she specialised in potato agronomy. She has held senior technical management roles in fresh produce with Co-op Retail and Sainsbury's and was the UK Agronomist for PepsiCo.

She serves on the steering group of the Allerton Project, a charity championing biodiversity, and was a member of the UK Government's Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRIF) for more than 20 years. Debbie is also a lead for Women in Food and Farming and a Director of CUPGRA, a Community Interest Company that supports research in potato science and its translation into commercial practice, where she chairs the R&D Sub-Committee.

Debbie continues to be actively involved in the agricultural sector, leading research and insight projects for two of her former employers as well as a large farming business. Drawing on decades of technical, commercial and research experience, she remains a respected voice across the industry.

Having raised four children, Debbie also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.