Weed specialist Dr Will Smith joins ADAS

ADAS is pleased to announce that Dr Will Smith has joined our team of weed specialists

His appointment expands the ADAS weeds team to six consultants, with expertise spanning chemical, cultural and non-chemical controls for arable and horticultural cropping systems, and grassland.

Prior to joining ADAS, Will was UK and Ireland Technical Lead at Gowan Crop Protection. He previously completed a PhD studying the theory and practical implementation of inter-row mechanical weeding in cereal crops while conducting weed management trials at NIAB.

Lynn Tatnell, who leads the ADAS weeds team, explained:

“Will’s appointment cements ADAS as the home of applied weed research in the UK. It expands our capabilities and capacity to develop and trial novel commercial weed control options, while continuing to provide independent technical support to growers and advisors.”

Lynn also outlined how the team’s expansion is part of a wider ADAS strategy to address future weed management challenges:

“Weeds are evolving, as is our approach to managing them. There is more of a focus now on balancing effective weed management with the positive role that some weed species can play in healthy agricultural ecosystems.”

Beyond weed science, Jonathan Blake, head of crop protection at ADAS, added:

“Our continued investment in our crop protection offer is a strong statement of confidence in the British agricultural industry. ADAS has been conducting applied agricultural research for 80 years now and our scientists are at the forefront of investigations into emerging problems such as herbicide and pesticide resistance.”