(b.1952) Consultant and former Head of Public and Government Affairs Colin retired from Monsanto in February 2010, after 20 years in technical management, resulting in the role of Head of Public and Government Affairs, UK and Ireland. He then spent 5 years consulting in sustainable and efficient production in bio-industries and is currently working with a local shale gas advisory group in North Yorkshire. Merritt's career in applied agricultural research and communications spans 40 years, including 5 years at Cranfield University and 15 years at the AFRC Weed Research Organization, during which time he gained a PhD with the University of Bath. In recent years Meritt has taken an active interest in biofuels and is a former Director of Northeast Biofuels Ltd. the Teesside industry cluster.