Hassan Awashra

Leading potato and root crops commercial research at Niab; developing, delivering, and managing agronomy research projects and contract trials.

Knowledge exchange for potato and root crop agronomy in the context of sustainable cropping systems in partnership with CUPGRA and industry groups.

Member of the Niab Commercial Development team in developing new research areas and services in potatoes, root crops, and on-farm Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHGs) tests for arable crops.

Participate in the development and delivery of knowledge exchange (KE) through publications or initiatives targeted at the wider industry at meetings, demonstrations & events.

Contribute to the delivery of industry training and technical consultancy services for CUPGRA and other Niab clients.

Part of the Niab facilitators for ADOPT, supporting collaborative farmer-led, on-farm trials and experiments to generate, test and demonstrate innovative solutions to farming challenges.

I hold a BSc in Plant Science and an MSc in Plant Biotechnology and Enterprise. Originally, I am a professional olive grower with expertise in tree pruning and care.

Current Projects

Title: Novel and Enhanced Efficiency Fertiliser Platform
Duration: 2025-2028
Partners: Leeds University, Aberystwyth University
Funders: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
 

Title: Studying the incorporation of POLY4 into the potato fertilisation effect on asparagine levels in potato crops
Duration: 2025-2026
Partners: Curtis Analytics Limited
Funders: Anglo American Woodsmith Limited
 

Title: Disrupting potato crop nutrition management using novel photocatalytic technology to reduce fertiliser use and N losses, while removing pollutants from the air
Duration: 2025-2027
Partners: Crop Intellect Ltd, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Branston Ltd
Funders: Farming Innovation Programme, Innovate UK