Crop production awards for industry stalwarts

Two arable sector stalwarts have been recognised for outstanding service to the crop production industry.

Pam Chambers and Keith Norman were presented with the 2025 British Crop Production Council Award awards at this year’s BCPC Congress event, held last month in Harrogate.

The BCPC Award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in one or more of the areas of scientific advance, technology innovation, advisory and extension, education and training and regulatory affairs.

BCPC advisory board member Jim Orson said: “Both recipients are being recognised for their exceptional contributions to agronomy, agricultural technology and crop production, both in the UK and internationally.”

Across their distinguished careers Pam and Keith have shared their considerable experience, knowledge and dedication to our sector, and continue to do so.”

Pam Chambers

One of the UK’s first female arable advisers, Pam began her career at ADAS, co-authoring research on nitrate loss before moving to New Zealand for three years where she revolutionised the Kiwi approach to agronomic advice.

After helping a farmer client win a world wheat yield record, Pam returned to the UK to join Farmacy. She was one of the first to identify verticillium wilt in oilseed rape, later working at Broom’s Barn Research Centre, on knowledge transfer and weed research.

At UPL, she became the UK’s first Technical Manager and advised globally on beet products. Now at British Sugar, Pam leads weed control strategies and represents the UK in international beet research groups.

Keith Norman

With a career spanning 45 years, Keith began in farm management before becoming Technical Director at Velcourt, where he led research and knowledge transfer initiatives that transformed integrated crop management.

His work in seed, nutrition, agrochemicals, and precision farming helped drive profitability and sustainability across the sector. Notably, Velcourt’s demonstration plots at the Cereals Event became a benchmark for technology transfer.

In 2013, he was named Farm Adviser of the Year by Farmers Weekly. Since 2018, Keith has run his own consultancy, contributing to projects across Europe and holding key roles in Defra, AHDB, BBSRC, and the John Innes Institute.