Jenna Ross
Born
Tarland
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen
Robert Gordon University
Scientific career
ThesisDiversity and mass production of slug-parasitic nematodes (2010)

Dr. Jenna Ross OBE is a Scottish environmental scientist and agricultural researcher at the agri-tech centre Crop Health and Protection. She serves as the Director of the Oxford Farming Conference. She was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours.

Early life and education

Dr. Ross grew up in Tarland on a family farm.[1] As a child she collected slugs from turnip fields, and saw the impact that slugs had on farmers' livelihoods.[2] She attended Aboyne Academy.[3] Her parents, grandparents and great grandparents were all farmers.[4] She was an undergraduate student at Robert Gordon University where she specialised in forensic sciences.[4] She then worked for Grampian Police as a scene of crime officer.[5]

Dr. Ross' doctoral research considered the development of biological control agents for slugs and snails. Slugs pose the biggest threat to cereal and oilseed production, and are estimated to cost the UK farming industry £100 million a year.[6] Dr. Ross developed her expertise in malacology during a 26-week tour of the world.[7] Based on these investigations, Dr. Ross wrote a report outlining emerging pest management techniques.[2] Her research uncovered that over half of the UK slug species are exotic, and that slugs can have both an economic impact (due to crop damage) and an impact on human health.[8] She advised the government to develop biosecurity protocols to protect UK agriculture and employed an eradication protocol for the spanish slug.[8] After completing her doctorate, Dr. Ross held various positions in sustainable agriculture companies, including Bioforsk.[4]

Career

Dr. Ross is focussed on improving sustainability and resilience in agriculture.[9][10] She is responsible for international development at the agri-tech centre Crop Health and Protection,[11] where she has sought to control slugs and snails using natural enemies.[5] She returned to the Robert Gordon University to complete an MBA, during which she was awarded the Land-based Aquaculture Higher Education Learner of the Year award and the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies award.[12]

Dr. Ross was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours.[1] After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Ross decorated commemorative hay bales.[13]

Awards and honours

  • 2018 Land-based Aquaculture Higher Education Learner of the Year Award[14]
  • 2019 35 Under 35 Award[15]
  • 2020 Farmers Club Educator Award[16]
  • 2022 Elected Officer of the Order of the British Empire in Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Slug scientist Dr Jenna Ross honoured with an OBE for her contribution to agricultural research". The Scottish Farmer. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  2. 1 2 "Riding the slime wave (views on slugs by a globe-trotting scholar) | AHDB". ahdb.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  3. ↑ Shanks, Ciaran (2022-06-02). "University of Aberdeen academic awarded OBE in Platinum Jubilee honours list". aberdeenlive. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jenna Ross". Nuffield Farming Scholarships. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  5. 1 2 "Q&A with Dr Jenna Ross | February 2019 | News | RGU". www.rgu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  6. ↑ Mackenzie, Gemma. "Tarland woman's battle to beat the slimy scourge on farms". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  7. ↑ "Slime time - with Dr Jenna Ross | Eat Farm Now". eatfarmnow.com. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  8. 1 2 "Riding the Slime Wave with Dr Jenna Ross". CHAP. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  9. ↑ "What's it like being an agri-scientist? | Eat Farm Now". eatfarmnow.com. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  10. ↑ "A day in the life of Innovation Hub Lead for crop health and protection". New Scientist Jobs. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  11. ↑ "Meet the CHAP team who are making a difference in UK agri-tech". CHAP. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  12. ↑ "Jenna leads the way for women in agriculture". The Scottish Farmer. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  13. ↑ Roy, Cameron. "'It's just a thank you': Row of hay bales decorated in tribute to the Queen". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Celebrating Scotland's Land-based Learners". The Scottish Farmer. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  15. ↑ ""Proud" students awarded for farm work". www.sruc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  16. ↑ "Jenna Ross wins Farmers Club Educator Award 2020". CHAP. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
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