King’s Birthday Honours 2024: Director of Agri-TechE Dr Belinda Clarke awarded an OBE
Dr Belinda Clarke, director of Agri-TechE, is “humbled and honoured” to have been awarded an OBE for services to agri-technologies and farming.
Agri-TechE is a membership network that connects farmers and growers with researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Its agri-tech innovation ecosystem is internationally recognised for the quality of the collaborations catalysed and for its role in accelerating the development and adoption of novel technologies.
Dr Clarke, of Ely, has led the organisation from inception, drawing on her experience of scientific research and knowledge exchange with farmers. She has spent a career working at the interface of government, industry and academia.
“I am humbled and honoured to be awarded an OBE for agri-technologies and farming and would like to pay tribute to the inspiring network, alongside whom I have the daily privilege of working,” she said.
Dr Clarke continued: “I see this as an accolade not just for myself, but also recognition of the contribution that Agri-TechE members’ world-leading science and innovative farming practices are making towards food security, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability of the global agri-food value chain.”
John Barrett, farms director of Sentry and chair of the Agri-TechE stakeholder board, added: “The many agri-tech businesses introduced, supported and promoted through Agri-TechE have been transformational. This wouldn’t have happened without Belinda’s drive, leadership and enthusiasm; she should be incredibly proud of this legacy.”
In addition to her leadership of Agri-TechE, Dr Clarke was a member of the Council of UKRI-BBSRC and a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (2015-2021) and is currently a non-executive director of Agrimetrics, formerly one of the UK’s Agri-Tech Centres.
Dr Clarke was awarded the Sir Timothy Colman Prize for “outstanding leadership in the agri-tech sector” in 2021 and was among the “Women of the Year 2022” cohort.
She has a first degree in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge (Newnham College) and a PhD in plant biochemistry following post-graduate research at the John Innes Centre into starch production by peas and potatoes. She is a Nuffield Scholar, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Councils, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a chartered biologist, and a qualified business coach.
