Nicola from Cannon Agriculture
About
Nicola Cannon is a Professor of Agriculture and senior agronomist with over 25 years’ experience spanning academia, applied research, consultancy, and international programme leadership. Her career combines rigorous scientific research with practical delivery, policy influence, and leadership across higher education, government, and industry.
Experience
She currently holds the role of Professor of Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University. She has held senior international leadership posts including Interim Dean at Qingdao Agricultural University (China) and Deputy Rector at the International Agriculture University (Uzbekistan), supporting institutional development, curriculum design, and international partnerships.
Earlier in her career, Professor Cannon worked as a Research Officer in precision farming at Cranfield University, followed by senior advisory and director roles in the agri‑food sector. This includes leadership of a farming and food network, extensive on‑farm advisory work, and eight years of independent consultancy delivering technical, strategic, and policy services across the UK and internationally.
In parallel with her academic roles, she has acted as a Technical Expert for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). She regularly advises Defra, international governments on sustainable agriculture, soil health, and organic production systems.