David Lloyd

Dr. David Lloyd is a research scientist at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, specializing in plant breeding and genomics of legume species. With over 46 research outputs spanning from 2000 to 2024, his work focuses on developing improved varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (T. pratense), lucerne (Medicago sativa), field beans (Vicia faba), and peas (Pisum sativum). As a Principal Investigator on multiple externally funded projects including the Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network (PC-GIN III) and the PeaGen project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, he leads significant research efforts in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Lloyd's research interests center on plant breeding methodologies for legume improvement, genomics of legume species, marker-assisted selection techniques, and introgression of novel traits from non-domesticated ecotypes. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable agricultural practices. He teaches undergraduate courses including BDM8420 (Plant Breeding), BRM1510 (Grassland Science), BR32020 (Crop and Grassland Production Science), and BDM5120 (Sustainable Grassland Systems), demonstrating his commitment to both research and education in agricultural sciences.

His recent publications (2020-2024) reveal a strong focus on genomic approaches to improve legume crops, with particular emphasis on faba bean resistance to chocolate spot disease, red clover genomic prediction incorporating environment interactions, and pea breeding for animal feed characteristics. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary research spanning plant genetics, pathology, statistics, and animal nutrition, reflecting the integrated nature of modern crop improvement programs.

Dr. Lloyd actively engages with industry through organizing and contributing to training courses for seed merchants in locations including Edinburgh and Melksham, Wiltshire. His research collaborations span multiple institutions, with recent external collaborations visible at country/territory level. As a Principal Investigator on externally funded research projects totaling over £1 million in funding from organizations like the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, he has established himself as a significant contributor to legume improvement research in the UK.