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Episode 56: The MorePeople Podcast with David Coop

16 days ago by Andrew Fitzmaurice
More People Podcast Tn Square David Coop

From Garden Passion to Seed Innovation: David Coop's Journey into Horticultural Excellence

At MorePeople, we love sharing stories that inspire, inform, and showcase the real people behind the food and horticulture sectors. In a recent episode of TheMorePeople Podcast, our host Andrew Fitzmaurice caught up with David Coop, Managing Director at Elsoms, for a fascinating dive into his career journey - from a love of gardening to leading one of the most impactful businesses in the seed world.

 

From Baby Bio to Bayer – An Unusual Start

David’s story is a brilliant example of curiosity and initiative opening unexpected doors. After studying biology at Bangor University and beginning a PhD at Lancaster, David quickly realised that lab research wasn’t where his passion lay. It was in explaining the science, not conducting it.

So, what next? With no connections in horticulture, David simply picked up a bottle of Baby Bio in his parents’ DIY shop and called the customer service number on the label. That bold move led him to a role at PBI, the makers of Baby Bio, answering consumer queries. It was a moment of serendipity that would shape his career.

 

A Career Rooted in Horticulture and Technical Expertise

That first step led to roles with Bayer, where he spent 13 years and even worked in the U.S. as a portfolio manager. On returning to the UK, David joined Westland as Head of Technical before finally moving to Elsoms, where MorePeople helped place him eight years ago.

Since then, he’s taken on a variety of roles at Elsoms, including Director of R&D, Sales, and Marketing, gaining a unique perspective across the business.

 

Unsung Heroes of the Food Chain

As Andrew highlighted during the podcast, many of the businesses we work with are the unsung heroes of the food industry. Most people don’t think about where their carrots, onions, or beetroot come from, but Elsoms plays a central role in that journey. From seed to shelf, Elsoms supplies high-quality seed to UK growers, delivering reliable, consistent performance year after year.

David explained that this success isn’t just luck - it’s the result of decades of breeding, selecting, and refining. Take "Nairobi", a carrot variety that has been the market leader for 30 years. Behind that success is meticulous work, advanced breeding programmes, and a commitment to quality.

 

The Long Game of Plant Breeding

One of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation was the scale and time involved in creating new plant varieties.

Elsoms produces over 100,000 new individual varieties annually and only a tiny fraction make it to trial. From those trials, even fewer make it to market. For biennial plants like parsnips, it can take up to 14 years to develop a new parent line. The investment in time, money, and resources is enormous. And sometimes, that investment leads to zero commercial return.

But that’s part of the journey. As David put it, "You’re creating a lot of diversity with a goal in mind. Then it’s about sifting through that diversity to find the magic."

 

What Makes a Great Variety?

Breeding isn’t just about flavour - though that matters too. A new vegetable variety needs to:

  • Perform well for growers with strong yields

  • Be reliable across different seasons and weather

  • Meet retailer specs for size, shape, and appearance

  • Store and pack well

  • Deliver good taste and texture to the consumer

Each one of these traits becomes a breeding goal and juggling them all is what makes the process so complex.

 

A Passion for Plants – and People

Beyond the science, David is passionate about sharing knowledge. He’s been giving gardening talks since he was 23 and still loves demystifying the seed journey for growers, retailers, and consumers alike. Whether hosting open days or speaking at events, he champions the work it takes to bring a humble carrot to your plate.

 

The Takeaway

This podcast episode is a brilliant reminder that behind every bite we take is a huge chain of innovation, dedication, and long-term vision. From a biology student with a passion for gardening to the MD of a leading seed business, David Coop’s story is a lesson in perseverance, curiosity, and making your own opportunities.

If you're interested in the world of agriculture, horticulture, or just love a good career story this episode is a must-listen.