Meet Our Team
Mark Chapman
Project Lead
Mark Chapman is the lead for NUCNet and his research focuses on novel and underutilised crops (NUCs) in the UK and across the world. As well as investigating the genetics and genomics of NUCs he has broad interest in the genetic basis of domestication and adaptation phenotypes.
Mary Barker
Project Co-Lead
Mary Barker is Professor of Psychology and Behavioural Science at the University of Southampton. She works on multi-level intervention projects aimed at supporting and empowering people, particularly young people, to promote the health of this generation and the next. This work involves a global network of partnerships and collaborations, many addressing issues of diet and food security.
John Hammond
Project Co-Lead
John Hammond is a Professor of Crop Science at the University of Reading. His research focuses on the impacts of different farming practices on the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles of agricultural production systems and on the impact of heat and drought on yield and quality in crops. He is currently supporting transdisciplinary food system projects including UKRI and EU projects focused on the incorporation of greater diversity in our primary production systems to build resilience and efficiency.
Jenny Baverstock
Project Co-Lead
Jenny Baverstock is a Principal Enterprise Fellow in Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, focusing on food security across production, climate impacts, nutrition, and access to healthy, sustainable food. She co-developed the Southampton Food Partnership and works with food-sector businesses and leads public engagement initiatives. She is also a co-lead for the FAIR project.
Pietro (Pete) Iannetta
Project Co-Lead
Pietro (Pete) Iannetta is research leader at the James Hutton Institute (UK); and Professor (Auxiliary) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Porto). He leads numerous research and innovation projects relating to sustainable feed- and food-systems – focusing on novel and underutilised crops, and a special focus on the role of ‘home-grown’ legumes.
Lydia Smith
Project Co-Lead
Lydia Smith has over 35 years of applied farmer-facing work, especially in novel and underutilised crops, their impact on soil health and on microbial interactions. She established and ran the Novel and Non-Food Crops area, which remains an important part of Niab’s work. Lydia leads several soil, microbial and sustainable farmer-facing research projects at Niab; notably the Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3). Lydia is pictured here in a field of flax in central England.
Sandra Dancer
Network Manager
Sandra has led multidisciplinary projects across academic and industry sectors, bringing extensive experience in coordinating complex partnerships and delivering high‑impact outcomes. As Network Manager, she oversees the day‑to‑day operations, communications, monitoring, reporting, and governance of the network, ensuring compliance and maintaining data integrity throughout all activities.
Early Career Researcher Management Board (ECR-MB)
The network welcomes members from Early Career researchers (e.g. postdocs and research technicians) and invites them to join the ECR-MB and work alongside the Management Board and Strategic Advisory Group.
Members of the ECR-MB
Strategic Advisory Group (SAG)
The SAG will oversee how NUCNet reaches its’ goals. The SAG alongside the Management Board and ECR-MB will together allocate funds from the network’s pump-priming and other awards, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Members of the SAG
Josiah Meldrum, Hodmedods
Sayed Azam-Ali, Crops for the Future
Andrew Cuthbertson, DEFRA
