Dr. Belinda Clarke OBE

Director of Agri-TechE

Belinda currently leads Agri-TechE, the UK’s longest-established and largest commercial membership network connecting farmers and growers with researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs and investors. The aim is to bring together those who see research and innovation as way to enhance the economic growth, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability of the agri-food value chain. Agri-TechE was named national Networking Group of the Year at the UK SME Business Awards 2019 and was a finalist in the Innovation category for Trade Association of the Year 2024. In 2025 Agri-TechE was named the “UK Agricultural Initiative of the Year” in the Corporate Live Wire Innovation and Excellence Awards.

Belinda has a first degree from the University of Cambridge in Natural Sciences (Part II Plant Sciences) and a PhD in plant biochemistry following her research on starch production in peas and potatoes at the John Innes Centre. She is a Nuffield Scholar, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Councils, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and a Chartered Biologist. In 2024 she was awarded an OBE for “services to agri-technologies and farming” in the Kings Birthday Honours List. In 2021 she was awarded the Sir Timothy Colman Prize for “outstanding leadership in the agri-tech sector” and she was among the UK’s “Women of the Year 2022” cohort.