Incoming Rothamsted chief has global aims

Achim Dobermann is leaving the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines in June to become director of Rothamsted Research. He talks to Helen Lock about the growing need for a global perspective and the importance of GM.

What changes can we expect at Rothamsted?

Significant changes have been made at Rothamsted in the past three years, and now is the time to enhance those. We need more diversified funding, so collaboration with industry and other important institutions in the UK is high priority. I would also like to take a more global view, looking at where we can play a significant role both nationally and internationally. Later this year, after talking about collaborations with colleagues and companies here, I will speak to China and maybe a couple of other countries about international work.