John Caradus

Dr John R. Caradus, Chief Executive Officer, Grasslanz Technology Ltd, is acknowledged as the world’s expert on the breeding and development of white clover cultivars, and the use of white clover in agriculture. Previously he was CEO of Dexcel Ltd, and a Science General Manager for AgResearch with specific responsibilities for customer management and governance of the Cultivar Development and Management Unit. John has a background in agricultural research with particular emphasis on plant breeding, having been involved in the breeding of several white clover cultivars. He currently serves as director on the boards of Grasslands Innovation Ltd, and AgResearch (USA) Ltd. Through his work on the genetic control and heritability of characteristics that affect persistence and performance of white clover he has produced 20 new cultivars that have led to his recognition by peers and colleagues around the world as “Mr White Clover”. In the early 2000s the cultivar, Grasslands Sustain was the premier proprietary white clover in Australasia; in March 2006, the cultivar Crusader was awarded the prestigious Plant Variety Cup of the UK National Institute of Agricultural Botany. In a rare dual achievement of technological outputs such as cultivars, and scientific publication, John has also excelled in publishing his research. He is the author of more than 90 papers in refereed scientific journals, 6 book chapters, and more than 117 conference papers, and other reports. For his contributions to agricultural science and leadership in plant improvement and breeding John has been elected to Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science and to Fellow of the Agronomy Society of New Zealand. He is a Past President of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, the New Zealand Grassland Association and the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association (NZPBRA). In his current role John manages the development of agricultural science innovations into commercial products and technologies that are then licensed and marketed through commercial companies. This epitomises his belief that scientific research is undertaken to make a difference and in many cases this results in productive and economic gain.