ABOUT US
We are soil scientists & agronomists with a 45–year track-record in research, development and advisory work in commercial horticulture and agriculture.
We have very significant pedigrees in:
- Entomology
- Soil Science
- Crop Nutrition
- Biostimulant Development
The foundation of our advisory recommendations is the OptiYield® soil analysis system combined with next generation OptiYield macro/micro nutrient, microbial and biostimulant products.
This range has been developed from our laboratory, glasshouse, field and farm research trials to enable a holistic approach to crop husbandry.
Delivering increased yields and environmental sustainability while reducing inputs and GHG emissions, our system is contributing towards reducing individual farm carbon footprints and meeting national net zero targets.
Radical Soil Science
Proven next generation soil analysis – containing 18 soil health indicators including organic matter as standard and showing crop available nutrient levels. Developed from 45 years of worldwide soil science.
Continuous R&D
Develop techniques to separate novel bioactives from natural sustainable sources. Optimise the production processes and formulation of innovative active compounds for agricultural use.
Biotech Products
Glasshouse & field trials of the bio-products on critical pathogens or as biostimulants for key crops takes place at our research facility, based at Bangor University’s Henfaes Research Centre.
Customer Experiences
Agronomists and farmers using OptiYield® have achieved reliable, increased yields and crop quality.
Radical Soil Science
Proven next generation soil analysis – containing 18 soil health indicators including organic matter as standard and showing crop available nutrient levels. Developed from 45 years of worldwide soil science.
Continuous R&D
Develop techniques to separate novel bioactives from natural sustainable sources. Optimise the production processes and formulation of innovative active compounds for agricultural use.
Biotech Products
Glasshouse & field trials of the bio-products on critical pathogens or as biostimulants for key crops takes place at our research facility, based at Bangor University’s Henfaes Research Centre.
Customer Experiences
Agronomists and farmers using OptiYield® have achieved reliable, increased yields and crop quality.
Simon Fox
Soil Scientist, Agronomist & Crop Nutrition Specialist
Simon graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Soil Science and during the 1980's began a very successful, wide-ranging career as a Soil Scientist, Agronomist & Crop Nutrition Specialist, specialising in arable and vegetable crop nutrition for irrigated and unirrigated crops.
Unusually, Simon has also gained professional status in the complementary discipline of Computer Science with a Masters Degree (MSc.) in Computer Science and is a Chartered IT Professional (CITP).
Simon’s career has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Africa, Switzerland, France, Italy and the UK gaining exceptional experience in advising growers across a very wide range of temperate, subtropical and dryland irrigated crops. During this time, he has built and run soil, water and plant tissue analysis laboratories and developed new methods for more accurate assessment of crop nutrient availability.
Simon continues to be heavily involved with fundamental research centred on the relationship, interaction and availability of soil nutrients with the aim of maximising economic crop yield and quality. He has also conducted extended research in projects with academic partners in the UK and across Europe into the development of new microbial technology and biochemistry from sustainable and renewable resources for crop biostimulation and crop protection.
Simon is a Member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists (MISoilSci.), the British Society of Soil Science and the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). Simon is also a FACTS Qualified Agronomist (FQA) and a recognised BASIS professional.
Simon has been Technical Director for a number of corporate IT companies, leading and developing teams of Technical Architects and Software Engineers in commercial IT development for projects in FTSE 100 companies.
Didier Mulot
CEO, Business Development
Didier has acquired extensive international experience over more than 35 years in the management and development of technology-based companies. After studying electronic engineering in the French Navy, he spent 10 years managing a scientific instrumentation department of 50 people supplying the biochemistry and IT industries.
He also has in-depth knowledge of the world of B2B and B2C distribution. He held the position of president of two companies dedicated to the sale of technological products on behalf of a group listed on the stock exchange.
In charge of institutional relations and key account clients, Didier has travelled the world and worked in more than 40 different countries from USA through Asia and across Europe. For more than 15 years, Didier has provided key strategic support to managers of companies ranging from start-ups to ETIs of 3000 people and is on the board of directors of the LE KEREDEN Institute.
Driven by the need to change the dogmas inherent in the current methods and processes of intensive cultivation, he has worked with several AgriTech companies such as BIO3G and Micromix Plant Health Ltd. (MPHL) where he instigated the acquisition and merger between MPHL and the French group OLMIX.
Didier is married and lives in Brittany, France. They have an engineer son working in England and a daughter currently in an engineering school for environmental professions.
Passionate about motorsports, boats and music, Didier was French champion of the Land Rally Co-drivers and won the RAC (UK) final in 1993.
Owen Jones
Research Director
Owen's academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bangor University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Cambridge (Churchill College). Owen went on to spend seven years at the Chemical Entomology Unit, Southampton University, as a Senior Research Entomologist
He co-founded AgriSense as its Technical Director in 1984, developing and commercialising insect monitoring and control systems based on pheromones. AgriSense is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Suterra LLC, Oregon, USA and until July 2012, Owen was responsible for Global Strategy with key responsibility for early-stage technical and scientific issues within the company. He liaised with external research and development partners as well as directing the company’s own internal longer term development activities.
Owen has also been the President of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers’ Association (IBMA) for two years until December 2012 and was on the board of IBMA for 5 years prior to that.
He is also a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London since 1978, an Honorary Professor in the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University and an Honorary Fellow of Bangor University since 2007.
He has published widely in scientific journals and text books on Integrated Pest Management and is regularly invited to give talks on the subject or chair meetings on the technology. He is also very interested in the field of Technology Transfer between Academia and Industry and has served on steering committees of organisations and initiatives set up to facilitate the process.
Owen brings to ERL many years of experience in the development and introduction of biological products and their subsequent introduction to UK and international crop production markets. His links to academic institutions are helping ERL to establish long term R & D partnerships for future innovations and new products in plant growth and productivity.
Helen Holman
Head of Communications and Marketing
Helen has 20 years’ experience within the business to business sector working in a diverse range of multinational industries from veterinary pharmaceuticals to electrical distribution equipment in both product and marketing management roles.
For the last seven years, she has worked with a range of SME’s within land-based industries, supporting development of their marketing strategies, skills and departments for future growth.
After studying Agricultural Marketing at Harper Adams University and attaining her Chartered Institute of Marketing diploma, Helen has continued her professional development with an MBA from Keele University. More recently, she has been entrenching her skills in sustainability by completing the Business Sustainability Management course at Cambridge University.
Helen lives in Shropshire with her husband and two teenage boys on the family farm, which produces biomass in the form of Miscanthus.
Anna Cervi
Research Chemist
Anna is a highly experienced Research and Development Scientist with over 35 years in both commercial and academic research both in her native Armenia and in the UK. She graduated from Yerevan University in Armenia with MSc degree in Organic Chemistry
Anna has worked in complex areas of organic chemistry ever since developing asymmetric synthesis of amino acids and their derivatives from chiral organometal complexes, heterocyclic, condensed Furo-Pyridine/Pyrimidines and their derivatives and investigated their biological activities.
Recently, she has worked at The Biocomposite Centre, Bangor University working towards the Supercritical CO2 extractions and fractionations of high-value phytochemical products and researching natural renewable organic compounds as both biostimulants and biopesticides. Anna is also a qualified and experienced analyst, with eleven years of experience in coordinating and supervising a UKAS accredited testing laboratory.
Anna is a member of the Chernobyl Children Life Line organisation and also an active lace maker
Simon Sheldon
Finance Director
Simon is a Chartered Accountant who graduated from Exeter University and trained with a Top 20 accountancy firm. Simon has been a Director of Harper Sheldon Chartered Accountants for over 20 years having founded the business in early 2002 following the successful acquisition of a Gloucestershire based accountancy practice.
Simon specialises in owner-managed businesses and in particular enjoys discussing business owners’ strategy as they grow and develop.
In addition, Simon is the former Chair and currently Vice Chair of White Horse Accountancy Training Limited a company that provides CPD and student training to a number of leading accountancy firms in the South West.
Simon is also a Trustee of the Cheltenham International Film Festival.
Simon has been married for over 30 years and has two adult children and currently lives in Maisemore, Gloucestershire.
George Eustice
Board Advisor
George is the former Secretary of State at DEFRA and currently acting as a Board Advisor to Emerald Research with regard to policy and regulatory affairs in the environment, agri-food and natural capital sectors with specific reference to improving crop yields and reliability while reducing environmental impact and inputs of both fertilisers and pesticides.
George was a Minister in DEFRA for nine years in total during which time he introduced the Agriculture Act 2020, the Environment Act 2021 and the Fisheries Act 2020 which created the key policy architecture for the post EU era. He developed the future farming policy based on payments to support farmers to improve soil health and make space for nature.
Since leaving government two years ago, he has been developing his own business, Penbroath Ltd, and is involved in projects as diverse as supporting methane capture from farms, natural capital markets, water conversation and soil health.