Professor Mark Stevens, Head of Science BBRO UK Mark Stevens joined the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) in December 2012 having spent over 23 years as a sugar beet research scientist at Rothamsted Research – Broom’s Barn. Whilst there he initially studied for his PhD and ultimately became group leader of the crop protection group and head of site in 2012. Mark is an applied biologist by training and more specifically a plant pathologist (particularly viruses), and has investigated the impact, control and epidemiology of pests and diseases especially rhizomania and virus yellows. During his career he was a visiting scientist at INRA-Colmar and spent a 12-month sabbatical at Iowa State University. He was convenor of the AAB virology group as well as an editor for the Annals of Applied Biology. Mark continues to manage and oversee a research portfolio that includes funding from competitive research grants as well as grants from the agrochemical sector, seed companies and agricultural trust funds. Mark works closely with the sugar beet industry via his role within the BBRO to ensure appropriate R&D to maximise the future potential of the sugar beet crop. In 2019, Mark was awarded an Honorary Professorship in Plant Virology from the University of Nottingham