 |
 |
News Releases THE
1999 BCPC MEDALLISTS |
|
|
|
Dr Roy Johnson Dr Roy Johnson studied at the Universities of Reading and Saskatchewan before working initially at the Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge and subsequently at the John Innes Centre, Norwich. In both institutes he successfully combined significant research with administration, education and training as well as active collaboration with plant breeders on a global basis. He was also a leading force within the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP). Dr Johnson's work on the concept and underlying genetics of durable resistance, contributing to the generation of rust resistant wheat cultivars, has benefited not only the UK but also considerable areas of the developing world. He has also made significant contributions to the identification and classification of isolates of the yellow rust pathogen (Puccinia striiformis). The benefits of this work have been extended to plant breeders in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and, most notably, in India and China where European sources of durable resistance have been introduced into local cultivars. In Mexico Dr Johnson has not only been closely involved in wheat pathology programmes, but he has also contributed to the training of young plant breeders from around the world for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). His international reputation has ensured that many of his collaborations and consultancies have continued beyond his retirement. Dr Johnson was President of the British Society for Plant Pathology in 1991 and has been senior editor of its journal Plant Pathology since 1995. |
 John Finney |
John Finney John Finney graduated from Reading University in 1963 and joined ICI Agricultural Division after first working for two years as a scientific advisor to a tea company in India. Within ICI he became progressively more involved in the management of crop protection research and development at Jealott's Hill Research Station where he was appointed International Research and Development Director of ICI Agrochemicals in 1986. In this post he was responsible for the creation and development of new agrochemical business, as well as the technical support of the existing business activities. It was during this period that from 1987 to 1992 John was a Visiting Professor at Reading University. In 1993, after 28 years service, John retired from ICI (subsequently Zeneca). He then became increasingly involved in an extensive range of activities reflecting his wide range of interests within the world-wide crop protection industry. He was Chairman of the British Crop Production Council from 1994 to 1998 - a period in which he initiated a number of major changes. He was Chairman of the IUPAC Congress of Pesticide Chemistry from 1994 to 1998 and was Chairman of the MAFF Steering Group on Decision Support Systems for Arable Crops (DESSAC) from 1993 to 1995. During this same period he was also a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Agricultural Strategy at the University of Reading. John Finney is currently Vice-President of the Battelle Memorial Institute’s Agriculture and Food Sector, Vice-President of BCPC, a Member of the Darwin Initiative Advisory Committee as well as a Member of the governing body of the Institute of Grassland and Environment Research. To conclude, John maintains a very active and energetic involvement with crop protection. |
 Barrie Orme |
Barrie Orme Barrie Orme studied at both Brooksby and Harper Adams Agricultural Colleges after which he spent ten years as a farm manager in Oxfordshire. It was here that Barrie first began his association with training, as he was responsible for the training of 40 farm trainees. The next ten years were spent working for the Agricultural Training Board (now Lantra) where he rose to senior training advisor for the Midlands. In 1979 he joined BASIS at its inception in London as training co-ordinator, soon to become Chief Executive in 1980 when the organisation moved to Ashbourne, Derbyshire. BASIS (Registration) Ltd was set up at the behest of a government to provide an independent registration and certification scheme for the agrochemical industry. From the outset Barrie’s diplomacy and networking skills were needed to enlist the support of agricultural supply houses and to select and monitor suitable training establishments. BASIS now sets and maintains standards for all those involved in the distribution, storage, sales and advice on the use of crop protection chemicals in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection and the BASIS Store Keepers Certificates are now statutory requirements, whilst the BASIS Professional Register ensures that holders of these qualifications keep up to date. In addition, other qualifications have been introduced in response to changing needs. This includes Crop Protection Management and Integrated Crop Management for decision makers and supervisors. Certification for fertiliser advisors has more recently been undertaken and has now been added to the Professional Register. The increasing international reputation of BASIS is reflected in requests for consultation most recently from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Barrie Orme had a key role in gaining initial support for BASIS, for the certification scheme and for the professional register. Over a 20 year period he has ensured that BASIS has maintained the very highest standards and has responded to changes in the industry by the introduction of a wider range of training and qualifications. As a result his influence on the standards set for crop protection practice in the UK is considerable. |
|
Date: 15 November 1999 For further
information contact: |
|
 |
|
