Giles Oldroyd will be the next president of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the organization announced on Tuesday. He will resume the post on October 1, succeeding James C. Carrington, who announced his departure last July.
Oldroyd comes to the Danforth Center at the University of Cambridge, where he occupies positions as a teacher of cultures science and director of the Crop Science Center. He joined the center as an internationally distinguished plant geneticist and member of the Royal Society and the American National Academy of Sciences.
“I am really passionate about the use of plant science to generate an impact on sustainability and equity in our global food production systems,” he said, “how we are reading this discovery and science plants to the farmer and the consumer ”.
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Oldroyd said he saw a global challenge to find better ways to cultivate sustainably and equitably foods that meet the needs of the world’s population. This is not just a challenge for high-income countries like the United States, he said.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, small farmers are really underperforming in their agricultural production,” said Oldroyd. “It is a problem of equity in food production.”
Oldroyd has experience with these challenges, since his research focuses on the ways in which bacteria and beneficial fungi can help reduce or even eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizer. He is also a leader in Activate nutrient symbiosis in agriculture Project, which aims to increase crop yields in Africa by improving the absorption of plant nutrients.
“It is possible that we can really obtain our agricultural nutrients from much more sustainable roots, such as beneficial microbial associations,” said Oldroyd. “I think it is possible to eradicate our need for inorganic fertilizers, and I will provide the management of this program to the Danforth Center when I pass.”
Its connection with ENSA, which Gates agricultural innovations Fund, also strengthens the link between the Danforth Center and Gates Ag One, both based in Saint-Louis.
“It’s a perfect alignment,” said Oldroyd. “This will facilitate program management, and bring it (it here) is strengthened and relies on the work already underway to improve the livelihoods of some of the poorest farmers on the planet.”
A spokesperson for Gates Agricultural Innovations said that there was no announcement that ENSA would make Cambridge to Danforth Center. However, the CEO of Gates Agricultural Innovations, Joe Cornelius, praised the news of the new position of Oldroyd and underlined the link between their two organizations.
“The move from Giles to Saint-Louis also demonstrates the attractiveness of the city for exceptional talents in the AG technological space,” Cornelius said in a press release. “(It) will undoubtedly be added to this growing capacity and will further strengthen Saint-Louis as a world center for agricultural innovation. I look forward to even more collaboration and achievements in the future. »»
The new role for Oldroyd means that he will have to go back from his personal scientific research, which is sad to abandon, he said.
“It’s a central aspect of my life,” said Oldroyd. “But what really excited me about the presidency of the Danforth Center is to really generate an impact on a world scene and do it at all levels in plant science, not just my own research. “”
Oldroyd arrives in the United States in an uncertain period, given the Trump administration’s desire to reduce supported programs by the federal government. The National Science Foundation supported a large part of the research at Danforth Center, and although their funding is not yet on blocking, Oldroyd said that he was wary.
“When you are looking for the impact of plant science, by actually carrying out products to farmers and consumers, you need longevity and security,” he said. “Instability with regard to (the Government) is a little threatening for this long -term stability.”
But Oldroyd said he considered the center’s philanthropic support as essential to the progress and maintenance of research that already occurs. He added that philanthropy already plays an important role in the survey of global challenges that will probably develop in the future.
And the challenges did not equal defeat, said Oldroyd.
“What I missed when I came to the United Kingdom was the real” can of can “that I just see in America,” he said. “I can’t wait to come back to that:” We are just going to do this. I know it’s difficult, but we will continue and deliver. »»
Apart from the role at the Danforth Center, Oldroyd said he was looking forward to moving to “a very beautiful city” in the Midwest and living the neighboring nature with her husband.
“Exploring Midwest, more generally for its wild spaces, that’s what I would say that I am the most excited,” he said. “I am very interested in nature and conservation, and America is fantastic for its national parks, its natural areas.”
This story has been updated.