Biography 

Professor in Agriculture.

Professor Nicola Cannon is a leading expert in sustainable agriculture, with a distinguished track record in strategic research and policy development. Her recent projects include evaluating war damage to Ukrainian farmland (Defra), developing urine-based fertilizers (Innovate UK), evaluating urine based fertilisers and effective use of legumes in cropping systems. She has led initiatives on nutrient efficiency (NTPlus), herbal leys for archaeological sites (Historic England), and UK-grown soya for human consumption. Nicola’s expertise spans sustainable cropping systems, agronomy (Basis & FACTS certified), organic production, and crop innovation. She supervises PhD research, delivers consultancy for agricultural organisations, and is widely published across academic, technical, and popular media. A highly experienced educator, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate, and professional short courses.

University responsibilities

  • Professor in Agriculture
  • Research cluster lead for Sustainability, Regeneration and Biodiversity in Agriculture (SRBA)
  • Teaching and leadership in the UK, Uzbekistan and China
  • Curriculum development in Sharjah, UAE
  • Consultancy projects in the UK and globally including land use, agronomy, sustainable farming techniques and soils.
  • PhD and Master by Research supervision
  • PhD internal examiner

Professional memberships

  • Professional member of the Institute of Agricultural Management (PMIAgrM)
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
  • Member of the Association of Applied Biologists
  • Fellow of Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS)
  • Nuffield Scholar (2007)

External activities

  • Member of the Expert Group on Organic Production (EGOP) for Defra
  • Evaluator for international faculty accreditation
  • Media activities relating to agricultural current affairs
  • Deputy Rector (Academic) International Agricultural University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  • External examiner for The University of Mauritius BSc Agricultural Science and Technology (Minor Biosecurity)
  • Advisor to Malaika Kids, a Tanzanian Orphanage assisting with their food self-sufficiency project.
  • PhD External Examiner
  • Research grant evaluation
  • Chair and committee member of Burford Farming Club
  • Organiser and co-ordinator of Cotswold Arable Study Group

Awards

The Agricultural Educators Award 2024 to investigate opportunities for climate smart agriculture. The Farmers Club, London.

Research

Nicola Cannon’s research focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture through innovation, resilience, and environmental stewardship. Her recent projects span post-conflict land restoration in Ukraine, nutrient use efficiency to improve water quality (NTPlus), and the development of urine-based fertilizers. She investigates soil health, crop nutritional density, and herbal leys for archaeological preservation. Nicola also leads work on UK-grown soya for human consumption and has shaped national carbon policy through the Farm Soil Carbon Code. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates agronomy, policy, and regenerative practices to address global challenges in food security, climate resilience, and sustainable land management.

 

Current projects and interests include:

  • Determining opportunities for utilising excess nitrates in drinking water within agriculture through nutrient recovery
  • Developing urine-based fertilisers
  • Evaluating the impact of war damage to soils in Ukraine and training in field evaluators
  • The impact of cultivation intensity on crop establishment, yield and soils
  • The role of legumes in cropping systems
  • Non-chemical weed control

Other research interests:

  • Bicropping
  • Farm soil carbon
  • Agronomy factors influencing soil health
  • Weed detection systems
  • Drone use in cropping systems

 

  • Google Scholar:       Google scholar profile   H-index  14                       
  • ResearchGate:         https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicola-Cannon-2                                                              
  • Orcid:               https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7956-8747      
  • X:                     Nicola Cannon @nickydcannon
  • LinkedIn:          www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-cannon-84876b87

 

 

 

Teaching

Module leader:

  • Crop health and protection
  • Agronomy challenges and solutions
  • Teaching involvement: Agronomy, crop science, organic and regenerative farming systems, professional courses

 

 

Additional University commitments:

  • Undergraduate dissertation supervision
  • Masters research supervision
  • PhD supervision

Publications

Academic Journal Papers

  • Cannon, N., Booyse, Y., Murray, P.J. & Crotty, F.V.(2025). The effect of long-term underlying management on soil faunal communities of a newly established herbal ley.  Soil Use and Management. In press
  • Cannon, N. & Rial-Lovera, K. (2025). How a decade of different tillage intensity influences yield response to seasonal weather variations. Soil Use and Management 41 (4) :e70134 https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.70134
  • Solokha, M, Melnyk, O., Cannon, N.D., Horton, M., Datsko, M. & O’Connor, D. (2025). Assessment of soil cover chemical pollution using satellite data: A case study of Kharkiv region, Ukraine.  Science of the Total Environment 995, 180105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180105
  • Chu, Q., Li, H., Cannon, N., Chang, X. & Feng, J. (2025).  An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Carbon Trading Mechanisms for Government, Farmer Professional Cooperatives and Farmers. Systems 13(6), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060413
  • Feng, J., Li, H., Cannon, N., Chang, X. & Chu, Q. (2025). A simulation study of how Chinese farmer cooperatives can drive effective low-carbon production systems through a carbon transaction incentive. Systems 13, 260. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13040260
  • Feng, J., Kong, L., Cannon, N., Chang, X. & Longbo, M. (2025). Evaluation of the sustainable development capacity of bay cities in China in the context of blue bay remediation action. Sustainability 17, 3036. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/su17073036
  • Liu, A., Wang, J., Cannon, N., Chang, X., Guo, X. & Gao, M. (2025). Isolation and identification of components of mother liquor sugar from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni with nematicidal activity. Industrial Crops and products 228, 120848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.120848
  • Li, Z., Jiao, F., Sun, Z., Zhang, E., Song, X., Pei, Y., Li, J., Cannon, N.D., Chang, X.  & Guo, X. (2024). ZmD11 regulates plant floral development under drought stress. Agronomy 14(7), 1381; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071381
  • Kendall, H., Parkhurst, R., Black, H., Rudman, H., Chapman, P.J., Ziv, G., Cannon, N., Yeluripati, J,. Orman, M., Leeson, A., Phelps, J. and Reed, M.S. (2022).  What makes an operational Farm Soil Carbon Code? Insights from a global comparison of existing soil carbon codes using a structured analytical framework. Carbon Management 13:1, 554-580, https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2022.2135459
  • Kamalonga, D, and Cannon, N.D. (2020).   Advantages of bi-cropping field beans (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) on cereal forage yield and quality.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture (In press). https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2020.1788991
  • Cannon, N.D., Kamalonga, D, and Conway, J.S. (2019).   The effect of bi-cropping wheat (Triticum aestivum) and beans (Vicia faba) on forage yield and weed competition.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 36(1):1-15.. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2019.1636717
  • McKenna, P., Cannon, N.D. Conway, J. and Dooley, J.J. (2018).  The use of red clover (Trifolium pratense) in soil fertility-building: A Review. Field Crops Research 221, 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.02.006
  • McKenna, P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J. (2018).  Soil mineral nitrogen availability predicted by herbage yield and disease resistance in red clover (Trifolium Pratense). Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 112, 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-018-9947-1
  • McKenna, P., Cannon, N.D. Conway, J., Dooley, J.J. and Davies W.P. (2018).  Red clover (Trifolium pratense) in conservation agriculture: a compelling case for increased adoption.  International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 16, 342-366. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2018.1498442
  • Rial-Lovera K, Davies W P. Cannon N D. (2017). Implication of climate change for UK cropping and prospect for possible mitigation: A review of challenges and potential soil management responses. Invited paper to the Journal of Food Science and Agriculture 97 (1), 17-32 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7767
  • Alo, A.O., Baines, R., Conway, J. & Cannon, N.D. (2017).  The impacts of climate change on agriculture in developing countries: A case study of Oyo State, Nigeria.  International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts & Responses 9 (2), 1-21.
  • Rial-Lovera, K., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2016), Weed development in spring wheat after contrasting soil tillage and nitrogen management. Annals of Applied Biology 169, 236–247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aab.12294
  • Rial-Lovera K, Davies W P, Conway J S, Cannon N D. (2016). Influences of tillage systems and nitrogen management on yield, grain protein and N-use efficiency in UK spring wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science 154 (8), 1437-1452.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859616000058
  • Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N. D. and Conway, J. S. (2015).  Influence of two-year clover red clover-grass ley management on nitrogen economy and following wheat performance.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 32 (2),1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2015.1057865
  • Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N. D. and Conway, J. S. (2015).  Influence of one year red clover ley management subsequent cereal crops.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 31 (3), 193-204. http ://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2014.1001792
  • Mehmet Basbag, Davies W P, Cannon N D, Rial Lovera K, Basbag S, Burbi S, Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V, Moyo H, Axe M, Alo A, Minaei N. (2014). Some wild plants in the Cirencester natural flora. Anadolu Journal of Agricultural Science 29 (2), 126-135.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar A V, Davies W P, Cannon N D and Conway J S. (2014). Weed manifestation under different tillage and legume undersowing in organic wheat. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 30(4), 253-263.   http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2014.951961
  • Vijaya Bhaskar. A.V., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N. D. and Conway, J. S. (2013). Organic wheat performance following conventional and non-inversion tillage systems. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 29(4), 236-243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2013.829754
  • Azo, W.M., Lane, G.P.F., Davies, W.P.D. & Cannon, N.D. (2012).  Bi-cropping white lupins (Lupinus albus L.) with cereals for wholecrop forage in UK organic farming: the effect of seed rate and harvestdates on crop yield and quality.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 28(2), 86-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2012.671722
  • Azo, W.M., Lane, G.P.F., Davies, W.P.D. & Cannon, N.D. (2011).  Predicting dry matter and crude protein yields of lupin and cereal mono- and bicrops using a computer model.  Biological Agriculture and Horti

Conference contributions (refereed)

  • Cannon, N.D. & Forrest (2024). Battlefield tactics for the management of Zymoseptoria tritici.  24th Congress of the International Farm Management Association: Resilience through innovation.  Pp 81-95.
  • Hawkes, J. & Cannon, N.D. (2024). Evaluating the effect of environmental legume management options on crop establishment and nitrogen availability in the subsequent barley crop.  24th Congress of the International Farm Management Association: Resilience through innovation.  Pp 112-125.
  • Cannon, N.D. and Jiskani, S. (2024). Opportunities and challenges for sustainable whitefly management in Punjab, Pakistan: A review.  Journal of Agricultural Research 62(02).
  • Rial-Lovera K., Davies W.P., Cannon N.D. (2016). Energy and economic evaluation of spring wheat production under contrasting tillage systems and nitrogen fertilisation management. International Conference on Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Land Use. Budapest, Hungary. 31 May – 2 June 2016.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Cannon, N.D. and Davies, W.P. (2016).
  • Kamalonga, D., Cannon, N.D. and Davies, W.P., Conway, J. (2016). Bi-cropping spring field bean (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) for whole crop forage in the UK. ESA 14, Growing landscapes – Cultivating innovative agricultural systems.  Edinburgh, Scotland, UK  5-9 September 2016.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Cannon, N.D. and Davies, W.P. (2016).
  • McKenna, P., Cannon, N.D., Davies, W.P., Conway, J. and Dooley, J.J. (2016). Red clover (Trifolium pratense, L.) variety evaluation for soil fertility-building. ESA 14, Growing landscapes – Cultivating innovative agricultural systems.  Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 5-9 September 2016.
  • Rial Lovera, K., Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Cannon, N.D. and Davies, W.P. (2014).Agronomic decision making in an uncertain climate, Aspects of Applied Biology 125.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar AV, Davies W P, Cannon N D, Conway JS. (2014). Soil cultivation influences on organic spring wheat performance in contrasting weather. Agronomic decision making in an uncertain climate, Aspects of Applied Biology 125, 11-19.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar A V, Rial Lovera K, Davies W P, Cannon N D. (2014). Weed prevalence under organic and low-input cultivation systems. Agronomic decision making in an uncertain climate, Aspects of Applied Biology 125, 129-134.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar A V, Davies W P, Cannon N D, Conway J S.(2013). Characterisation of soil quality following conventional and non-inversion tillage for organic farming. Aspect of Applied Biology 121, Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, 181-185.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar A V, Davies W P, Cannon N D, Conway J S. (2013). Tillage and undersowing effects on organic wheat yield components and yield. Aspect of Applied Biology 121, Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, 186-192.
  • Vijaya Bhaskar A V, Cannon N D, Davies W P. (2013). Investigation of suitable legume species for undersowing in organic spring wheat. Aspect of Applied Biology 121, Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, 199-202.
  • Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2013) Influences of red clover/grass management on wheat performance. Aspects of Applied Biology, 121 Rethinking agricultural systems in the UK, 143-148.
  • Moyo, H., Lane, G.P.F., Davies, W.P. & Cannon, N.D. (2011). Strategies for soil fertility – building through improved legume cropping.Aspects of Applied Biology 109, 155-160.
  • Matthews, R.B. & Cosser, N.D. (1997). Using crop simulation models to develop treatment maps in precision agriculture. Aspect of Applied Biology 50, Optimising Cereal Inputs: Its Scientific Basis, 181-190.
  • Azo, W.M., Lane, G.P.F., Davies, W.P.D. & Cannon, N.D. (2009). Conductance model evaluation for predicting yields and protein content of lupin/cereal forage crops in organic farming. Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Precision Agriculture (7ECPA), 679-686. Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
  • Azo, W.M., Cannon, N.D., Lane, G.P.F. & Davies, W.P.D. (2009). Conductance model assessment for yield and protein content prediction in lupin-cereal forage crop mixtures in organic farming systems. BGS 9th Research Conference. 60-64
  • Azo, W.M., Lane, G.P.F., Davies, W.P.D. & Cannon, N.D. (2006). Influences of crop maturityand harvest date on the yield and forage quality of lupin and lupin/cereal bi-crops for organic livestock production.BGS 8th Research Conference. 57-58.
  • Azo, W.M., Lane, G.P.F., Cannon, N.D. & Davies, W.P.D. (2006).Dry matter yields and quality of organic lupin and lupin/cereal mixtures for wholecrop forage.Aspect of Applied Biology 79, What will organic farming deliver? COR 2006. 93-96.
  • Cannon, N.D., Gooding, M.J. & Davies, W.P. (2002). Effects of wheat dwarfing genes on grain yield and quality of wheat in competition with Alopecurus myosurides. Aspect of Applied Biology, Genotype-Phenotype: Narrowing the Gaps.
  • Cosser, N.D. & Earl, R. (1997).  Precision farming: Approaches to the management of within field variability. Aspect of Applied Biology 50, Optimising Cereal Inputs: It’s Scientific Basis, 481-486.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1997).  The effect of weeding and sheep grazing on grain yield and quality of organic wheat.  Aspect of Applied Biology 50, Optimising Cereal Inputs: Its Scientific Basis, 415-418.
  • Gooding, M.J., Cosser, N.D., Thompson, A.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1997). The effect of cultivar and Rht genes on the competitive ability, yield and breadmaking quality and of organically grown winter wheat. 3rd European Network of Organic Farming workshop, Resource Use in Organic Farming, Ancona, Italy. 113-126.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J., Thompson, A.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1997). Cultivar and Rht gene influences on the competitivity, yield and the breadmaking quality of organic wheat. Aspect of Applied Biology 50, Optimising Cereal Inputs: It’s Scientific Basis, 39-51.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1996).  The impact of wheat cultivar, sowing date and grazing on the weed seedbank of an organic farming system.  Aspects of Applied Biology 47, Rotations and Cropping Systems. 429-432.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1996). Effect of wheat dwarfing genes on grain yield and quality of wheat in competition with Alopecurus myosuroides. Second international weed control congress, Copenhagen, Denmark. 1089-1094.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1995). The effect of wheat dwarfing genes on competition against blackgrass.  British Crop Protection Council, The Brighton Conference, Weeds,  361-362.
  • Cosser, N.D., Thompson, A.J., Gooding, M.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1994). Influences of variety and establishment date on nitrogen accumulation during winter in the shoot systems of winter wheat. Aspects of Applied Biology 39, The Impact of Genetic Variation in Sustainable Agriculture, 195-200.
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1994). Effect of sowing date and cultivar on the yield and nutritional quality of wheat for sheep grazing in the early spring. British culture 27(3-4), 278-293.  http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/01448765.2011.647795
  • Gooding, M.J., Cannon, N.D., Thompson, A.J. & Davies, W.P. (1999). Quality and value of organic grain from contrasting breadmaking wheat varieties and near isogenic lines differing in dwarfing genes. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 16, 335-350.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1999.9755237
  • Gooding, M.J., Cosser, N.D., Thompson, A.J., Davies, W.P. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1998). Sheep grazing and defoliation of contrasting varieties of organically grown winter wheat with and without undersowing. Grass and Forage Science 53, 76-87.  http://dx.doi.org/110.1046/j.1365-2494.1998.00106.x
  • Cosser, N.D., Gooding, M.J., Thompson, A.J. & Froud-Williams, R.J. (1997).  Competitive ability and tolerance of organically grown wheat cultivars to natural weed infestations.  Annals of Applied Biology 130, 523-535.

Chapters in edited books

  • Cannon, N.D. (2017). The digital classroom for exam revision.  In: D. Peberdy (Ed.), Creating the digital campus: Active learning spaces and technology (pp. 121-124).  DroitwichNet: Pentrose Group.
  • Blackmore, S., Godwin, R.J., Taylor, J.C., Cosser, N.D., Wood, G.A., Earl, R. & Knight, S. (1998).  Understanding the variability in four fields in the United Kingdom.  In Ed. P C Robert, R H Rust and W Larson Proc. Of the 4th International Conference on Precision Agriculture (pp. 3–18). ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.

 

Selection of popular journalistic papers

  • Cannon, N.D. (2020). Can mechanical weeding offer reliable weed control solutions?  Direct Drilling Magazine January 2020. Pg 8-11. https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/mechanical-weeding.310413/ 
  • Cannon, N.D. (2019). Six essential steps to success for growing soybeans in the UK. Niab Tag Landmark magazine. December 2019. Pg 16-18.
  • Cannon, N.D. (2018).   To weed or not to weed.  Organic Farming Magazine. January 2018.

Review articles

Other publications

  • Cannon, N,  Melander,B; Ståhl, Kiefler, S,  Murdoch, A,  McCollough, M,  and Jan, D. (2020). A vision for the opportunities for precision non-chemical weed management in 2050 and beyond. EIP Agri.  https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/sites/agri-eip/files/eip-agri_fg_non-chemical_weed_management_final_report_2020_en.pdf
  • Cannon, N.D. (2018). Why climate extremes could wipe out specialist fruit and vegetable growers. P25-26 In: The Climate Coalition (2018).  Recipe for disaster: How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg.
  • Cannon, N.D. (2009). Sustainability within the conventional and organic farming sectors. Nuffield Farming Scholarship Report.