People

Bertenshaw, Vanessa J.

Job Title Technology Specialist
Department Seed Conservation
Section Technology & Training
Science Teams Millennium Seed Bank Project
Joined Kew 2003
Foreign Language(s) French, Spanish (basic), Latin (GCSE)

Qualifications & Appointments

BSc (Hons), Biological Sciences, Univ. Exeter, 1998

MSc, Biological Diversity, Univ. Plymouth, 2001

Role

Providing technical support and training to improve seed conservation techniques used by MSBP partner institutions

Identifying problems and carrying out applied research as necessary to remove process related constraints to seed conservation amongst MSBP partner institutions. In-country technical support and training delivered to enable partners to process and store seeds to international standards. Desk-based study being carried out and workshops organised in support of Kew/FAO initiative to overcome constraints to long-term seed storage of ‘difficult to store’, under-utilised crop species.

Projects

Improving the Identification, Handling and Storage of ‘Difficult’ Seeds

Investigating Seed Drying: the Development of Low Technology Drying Options and Methods for Measuring Seed Moisture Status

Review and Improvement of Farm-Based Post-Harvest Handling and Seed Storage Technologies

Theme: Post-Harvest Technology