David Radcliffe, is a Senior Advisor for Agricultural Research for Developmentat DG Development and Cooperation, European Commission. David Radcliffe has a B.Sc in biochemistry and soil science from the University of Wales and an M.Sc in soil science from the University of Aberdeen. He is a member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists and of the Tropical Agriculture Association. David  started his career with Hunting Technical Services as a soil surveyor on agricultural development projects in Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East. Subsequently he worked for FAO as a technical specialist on soils and land resources and as Chief Technical Adviser leading a team preparing maps of soil resources and land suitability in Botswana. He also worked as a land use agronomist for the Government of Papua New Guinea, where he co-authored a series of papers on the physical and chemical properties of volcanic ash soils.

David  has been employed by the UK Department for International Development since 1998, working as a senior rural livelihoods adviser on programmes in Ethiopia, eastern Europe and central Asia, Afghanistan and India, and also as lead adviser to DFID research programmes on plant science and crop protection. He led the development of DFID’s support to the rural sector in Afghanistan, including the Research in Alternative Livelihoods Project with ICARDA.

David is currently on secondment from DFID to the European Commission, specialising in agricultural research for development and also following agriculture and climate change and biotechnology issues. He is currently the Executive Secretary of EFARD – the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development.