Dr Steven Muir, Lead Data Analyst/ Consumer Research Manager – Agrico UK Ltd

Steven is currently redesigning the way company data is visualised. In addition, a vast amount of consumer data has been collected through a 30-month duration knowledge transfer partnership project, for which Steven was company supervisor, focusing on home use test sensory evaluation. For this, AI solutions were explored for analysing resultant data.

Steven also analyses datasets such as disease resistance trials, pedigree analysis to determine parent plant estimated breeding values, seed spacing, storage treatment etc. for Agrico Research’s potato breeding programme. His data analysis work facilitates emerging potato variety selection in the breeding programme. If cultivars are identified with desirable eating quality and that are agronomically strong with good disease resistance, it benefits not only the grower but also the consumer. 

Steven’s other role is Consumer Research Manager, which has mainly revolved around the KTP home-use-test project with Abertay University. Agrico were ambitious and distributed potatoes samples (11 varieties) around Great Britian, over two seasons, for consumers to prepare as a potato-based meal in a home-setting. The data has allowed us to build a picture of the UK potato consumer as a whole.

In addition, Steven is an active participant in the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) STEM Ambassador programme and is keen to encourage young people into the food and drink industry.

Award sponsored by IFST