John Walgate has been appointed as the new CEO at British Growers and will take up his appointment at the beginning of September 2024.

John will take over the role of CEO from Jack Ward who will remain as a main Board director and continue his industry representation role on a part time basis working with John over the coming months.

Commenting on the appointment Jason Burgess Chairman of British Growers said “we had an impressive list of people come forward for the role, but the combination of John’s finance background coupled with his experience of running businesses at a CEO level made him the standout candidate to take the organisation forward. And we are delighted he will be taking up the post at the start of September”.

John’s professional career started with the accountancy firm Grant Thornton. John has over 25 years senior level experience in the pet food sector, leading several successful businesses.

In addition to his finance and CEO experience, John has also chaired the representative organisation for the Pet Food industry and so brings valuable expertise in industry representation.

John said “I am delighted to be joining British Growers and continuing the excellent work of Jack and the team. It’s a great time to be joining the horticultural industry and I look forward to helping support the future growth of British producers”.

When not working John is keen on sport and vegetable and fruit production at his allotment on the outskirts of Lincoln.

£30k funding pot to boost careers, networking and skills across the agriculture and food sector in the region

The East of Agricultural Society is delighted to announce the launch of the East of England Agricultural Society Scholars Programme, with grants of up to £2,000 per successful applicant to help progress careers within the agricultural and horticultural industries. With the first two scholars already benefiting from their grants, the programme has three funding windows – with the first closing 20^th February. Further windows will close in June and October, but applications are welcome all year round.

Society Vice Chairman, Stuart Roberts, said: “The East of England Agricultural Society Scholars Programme is an exciting new project for the Society, and I am delighted with the calibre of our first scholars. Going forward we anticipate this programme becoming an important core activity for us as we reach out to those who are looking to increase their own skills and knowledge, and to pass that on to the agricultural and rural community in the East of England.

“The future success of this programme will be determined entirely by the candidates who apply and are successful in receiving award and I would encourage as many people as possible to apply for the next round of scholars grants.”

The East of England Agricultural Society launched the fund in September 2023, offering successful applicants the opportunity to develop their careers, whilst also building a network around the Programme to help create future leaders in the industry. As part of the funding, recipients will receive mentorship from committee members and past scholars, be invited to deliver talks, and have the opportunity to feed into the wider Society network.

The first two successful applicants are Milly Fyfe and Liz Genever. Milly Fyfe is an award-winning PR, marketing and fundraising specialist from Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire, where she is a representative for Ladies in Beef, The Farm Safety Foundation, and The Farming Community Network. She is also English Panel Secretary to the Council for Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

Farming suckler cattle, sheep, arable crops and rare breed pigs alongside her husband Andrew and two young children, Milly has also been a Love British Food ambassador for over 10 years and during the pandemic launched her ‘No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents’ food blog.

Milly has been awarded funding by the Scholars Programme to receive formal TV training. She said: “To be recognised and receive this grant is a huge boost to me personally, on behalf of my business and the wider farming industry. I’ve picked up presenting skills along the way with the experiences I have been involved with, although completely self-taught. However, having coaching from TV industry experts, using state of the art equipment, will really help to up my game, especially when it comes to communicating consumer related food and farming issues. I want to resonate with a wider audience on social media, through my YouTube channel and pick up work opportunities too.”

Dr Liz Genever has also received a grant in the first round of funding to complete Integrity Soils’ CREATE UK course; an intensive programme designed to train and empower consultants and coaches in the theory, principles and practices behind healthy, agroecological systems.

Liz is an independent and holistically trained beef and sheep systems consultant working across the UK. She is a third-generation farmer in South West Lincolnshire, near Stamford, and is transitioning the family mixed farm towards a more regenerative and biological approach. With a strong technical background and working with beef and sheep farmers across the UK, Liz’s expertise covers livestock production, grazing systems and sustainable farming techniques.

She is one of the founders of Carbon Calling CIC, which is building a community of farmers who support and learn from one another to make their farm and themselves healthier and happier, Liz also co-hosts a monthly podcast – ReGenAg chat.

Liz said: “The funding will provide me with new opportunities and new knowledge through enabling me to take part in the CREATE course, whilst also making local farmers more aware of my services. Being a successful Scholars Programme applicant has also given me the confidence to apply for a DEFRA Facilitation Fund Project, which will strengthen that connection with local farmers even further.”

Agricultural Events Manager, Ruth Trolove, said: “We are interested in viewing applications from anyone in the agricultural and horticultural sectors who thinks they could benefit from the programme, there are no limitations on age or background. This is a great opportunity to further your career whilst giving back to the community and to add to the network by encouraging future applicants.”

The East of England Agricultural Society is welcoming applicants for the current window of funding, and applicants should email scholars@eastofengland.org.uk or visit www.eastofengland.org.uk/scholars/ to find out more information and access the application documents.

The Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) has noted a concerning trend following a year of unpredictable and extreme weather conditions across the UK in 2023. Members of the association have reported that the changeable weather, combined with other factors, is likely to lead to an increase in turfgrass prices in 2024.

The past year saw a spectrum of climatic challenges, from prolonged summer droughts to heavy rainfall in autumn and winter. These conditions, exacerbated by stringent chemical legislation, have led to increased disease vulnerability and impacted turfgrass harvest yields.

The Met Office has highlighted the visible effects of climate change globally, including risks to water supplies, localised flooding, altered seasonality, heat stress, and the expanding habitat range of pests – all of which are concerns for the turfgrass industry. Predictions of warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers, and more frequent intense weather events add further pressure to turfgrass cultivation.

Richard Owens, Chair of the TGA, stated, “Our members are finding 2023 to be a particularly challenging year for turfgrass production. This trend is expected to continue, necessitating an industry-wide adjustment in turfgrass pricing to offset the increasing costs of production.”

In addition to weather challenges, other factors contributing to the anticipated price increase include the rising cost of fertilisers and fuel, supply chain disruptions, and the need for more sustainable growing practices. The TGA is committed to supporting its members through these challenges, advocating for industry needs, and promoting best practices in sustainable turfgrass production.

A comprehensive, regular, and reliable data service for sellers of fresh and frozen produce has been relaunched to enable access to images and information that can only be discovered in UK stores.

British Growers Insights is the UK’s largest and most up to date fresh and frozen produce point of sale data service for organisations within the fresh and frozen produce sector, offering unique insights on over 3,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), both online and in store, including how products look on shelves, and what customers actually see.

Collecting thousands of data points spanning 20 categories of fruit, vegetables, salads, mushrooms, and prepared produce each week, users can access up-to-date customer perspectives, on demand.

“British Growers Insights offers users access to timely retail data that’s updated by our team each week, and all of which has been collected by barcode scanners to reduce the risk of human error. Our team goes into stores, so our clients don’t have to,” explains Lisa Eagles, managing director at British Growers Association, the not-for-profit organisation behind British Growers Insights.

“The data provides over 25 product features, some of which can only be discovered in store, including pricing, promotions, pack size, variety, retailer, availability, and country of origin.

“As well as historical data, users can access and download over 4,500 product record updates each week from 12 major food retailers covering 90% of the UK market share,” says Lisa.

“All of our information is helping businesses to make strategic and tactical decisions,” adds Lisa.

Peter Durose, managing director of Coregeo, the company behind Pink Lady^® apples and Tenderstem^® broccoli, uses British Growers Insights to make strategic decisions. “BG insights provides us with an invaluable source of in-depth weekly insights and industry data, enabling us to complete detailed category analysis with deeper insight into the activity within the range in retail at any given time during the year.”

British Growers Insights is available on a 14-day free trial from sales@bginsights.org or 01507 353796.

III International Symposium on Carrot and other Apiaceae – Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities still available

We are delighted to extend an invitation for sponsorship and trade exhibitor opportunities at the III International Carrot & Other Apiaceae Symposium. This prestigious event will unfold at York Racecourse from Monday 2 October to Wednesday 5 October 2023. It promises to be a vibrant fusion of scientific insights, industry innovations, and social celebrations, capped with a Gala Dinner at the Racecourse.

The 2023 Symposium entitled “a taste of things to come” will bring together more than 300 delegates from every continent, representing the very forefront of the Carrot and Apiaceae community. We will present the most recent scientific findings and technical advances with our lineup of global speakers, whilst also fostering a space for high-value networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

Why Participate?

• Showcase Your Brand: With global representation, this Symposium offers a powerful platform to display your products or services to a wide, international audience.
• Network with Leaders: Engage with key decision-makers, researchers, growers, and industry influencers.
• Expand Your Reach: Leverage this unique gathering to broaden your footprint across diverse regions and sectors.
• Build Lasting Connections: Forge meaningful relationships through interactive sessions, seminars, and celebratory dinners, all set in the historic city of York.

For further information on sponsorship, exhibiting at the event, registration forms, event marketing and branding, complimentary delegates, and additional tickets, please find the attached conference booklet, or visit our website: International Symposium on Carrot and Other Apiaceae – 2-5 October 2023.

There are going to be some amazing celebratory dinners held in various venues throughout the city. On Thursday 5^th October the Symposium is joining forces with the British Carrot Growers Association and offering delegates a chance to visit the annual British Carrot Growers Association Demonstration Day.

Speakers Announced for the III International Symposium on Carrot and other Apiaceae

The III International Symposium on Carrot and other Apiaceae this week announces several of their speakers.

The III International Symposium on Carrot and other Apiaceae is proud to introduce several of their speakers this week. The UK eagerly awaits hosting the global ISHS carrot and Apiaceae gathering and we are pleased to share our engaging program.

The Symposium starts on the 3^rd of October and will run over three days. During the first day, delegates will get an insight into one of the largest UK Carrot Production facilities from Huntapac’s Technical Director Stephen Shields. He will also review the challenges and opportunities that exist within the UK carrot sector. Insights into the intricacies of the UK’s carrot retail market will be delivered by Joe Sorrell-Roberts from Kantar, a leading data and insights company.

The Symposium’s Worldwide Production, Marketing & Consumption section will take a global perspective as it addresses carrot marketing and consumption, Daniëlle Bruin, Food and Value Chain manager for Bejo, will lead this discussion. Additional speakers will explore French carrot production, and will evaluate whether cultivation and processing costs are in balance with retail prices.

The Symposium entitled “a taste of things to come” comprises an afternoon looking at the future of the carrot industry; Thomas Beach founder of Autonomous Agri Solutions Ltd will discuss and explain how automation can be used in a practical and commercially viable way for farmers. Looking at barriers to adoption and real-world applications. Islam Abdel-Ariz from RSK ADAS Ltd will highlight opportunities for emissions reduction in carrot production and discuss potential paths for carbon offsetting.

Our Platinum sponsors will give the attendees insight into carrot and parsnip breeding programs, from Floris Marten, Bejo Zaden and Richard Tudor, Elsoms Seeds respectively. These presentations will take into consideration the needs of growers, the processing industry, and the implications of our changing climate.

We have received a diverse selection of scientific papers which currently undergoing the final review by the Scientific Committee. We are eagerly anticipating sharing the paper titles and authors shortly.

As well as the fascinating topics being discussed the event will also host a large trade exhibition and allow plenty of networking opportunities.  Once the formal proceedings of the Symposium are finished each day the planning committee offer a variety of celebratory dinners at venues held around the historic city of York. Full details of the evening activities can be found and booked via the website.

A key event in the UK’s carrot calendar is the annual British Carrot Growers Association Demonstration Day, on Thursday 5^th October delegates of the Symposium will visit the event hosted by Huntapac. Carrot and Parsnip varieties are being grown in trial plots in the field near York for the delegates to evaluate. The biggest carrot variety event yet, 2023 160 varieties will be showcased, three times more than previous years.

Cavity spot trials, Fungicide trials and Insecticide trials are just a few of trial plots that will be available to view and evaluate on the day. Biocore Agri, BASF, Bayer CropScience and Agronomy Connection are putting forward their products for the trials and the results are sure to spark some interest in our attendees.