Dr. Steve Thomas
Team Leader – Environmental Quality | The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited
Biography
Dr Steve Thomas is a Senior Scientist and Team Leader of the Soil Water & Environment Group at Plant and Food Research based in Lincoln. He obtained his PhD in Soil Science from Lincoln University in 1997 and has an MSc in Irrigation and Water Management (Silsoe, UK). Steve has been at Plant & Food Research and Crop & Food Research since 1999.
Steve currently leads research projects to improve irrigation water use efficiency through improved soil management (MBIE Maximising the Value of Irrigation) and is also involved in research to mitigate nitrate leaching losses and greenhouse gas emissions. Much of his research is focussed on practical ways to improve on-farm soil, nutrient and water management to grow products sustainably and minimise environmental footprints. Steve and his team work with vegetable, arable and forage crops.