Oldroyd, a plant geneticist, is recognised for his work to understand symbiotic interactions between plants, beneficial bacteria, and fungi that aid in the update of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. He will step into his new role on the 1 October, 2025.
"Dr. Oldroyd is a proven leader with a passion and strong commitment for improving lives through plant science," said Penny Pennington (managing partner at Edward Jones, and chair of Danforth Centre Board of Directors) who led the search committee. "Under his leadership, we are confident the Danforth Centre will continue to drive innovative research, foster collaboration, and expand its impact across the globe."
Since 2017, Oldroyd has served as the Russell R. Geiger Professor of Crop Science and the Director of the Crop Science Centre at the University of Cambridge. He is in the top 1% of highly cited plant scientists across the globe, and one of only a few hundred scientists in the world who are elected members in both the UK's Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences, the two foremost scientific organisations in the English-speaking world.
He also leads the Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) project, funded by Gates Agricultural Innovations, which seeks to sustainably raise crop yields in Africa through improved nutrient uptake. The World Food Prize Foundation recently named him in the 2024 Top Agri-Food Pioneers List.
"Plant science is essential to tackling the global challenges we face," stated Oldroyd. "I am honoured to lead this prestigious institution as we continue to deliver impact through new discoveries and technologies, ensuring the sustainable production of food and fuel."
Oldroyd succeeds Danforth Center President and CEO James C. Carrington, PhD, who has led the Centre since 2011.