Agrileadership

Farming brief

B-Hive Innovations is implementing a new process it has developed to extract food-grade functional protein from potatoes. A new £6m protein plant at Branston’s HQ near Lincoln will include bespoke technologies to meet growing demand for UK-grown plant-based food ingredients free from allergens, for use in vegetarian and vegan foods, plus a starch-based coproduct.

UK food security ranks 6th in the world according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2020 Global Food Security Index sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. It rates 113 countries according to food affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience in the region. Overall global food security was down for the second year in a row. https:// foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/

Nearly eight out of ten Brits believe imported food should match UK environmental and animal welfare standards, shows a ComRes survey for the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists. Almost half wanted a climate change levy on food with a higher carbon footprint. 49% were more likely to buy British Food as a result of Brexit. 42% say they would be happy to pay more for food with a lower carbon footprint.

FCCT Professional Forum (Alumni of the Windsor Leadership Training Programmes) met virtually as part of #AgriLeadershipWeek.

#AgriLeadershipWeek

THE Farmers Club Charitable Trust played a key role in the highly successful first Agri Leadership Week, 17-21 May, alongside AHDB, Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, Institute of Agricultural Management and Worshipful Company of Farmers.

The week aimed to inspire current and aspiring leaders within agriculture to make better use of the leadership training on offer. It included Tweeting of leadership pledges, leadership videos from FCCT Alumni and Trustees explaining training opportunities, a leadership book competition, BBC Radio Lincolnshire interview, a Beanstalk Global broadcast to a live audience of over 1,500 and an ‘Imposter Syndrome’ chat session on Clubhouse, the invitation only social media platform, hosted by Emily Norton.

“Investing in the future by developing our current and future agricultural leaders has never been so imperative,” says FCCT Chair Stephen Fletcher. “In a game-changing collaboration the initiative will enable individuals to identify the most appropriate ‘leader journey’ to suit their own needs at any time during their career.”

A bigger event is planned for next year, says FCCT Awards Ambassador Lisa Turner.

NEW NUFFIELD FARMING LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and the family of Frank Arden CBE (1915-1979) have announced the Nuffield Farming Frank Arden Leadership Award, in memory of the farming icon and his inquisitive and generous spirit. It will fund a place on the Windsor Leadership Trust programme to help a Nuffield Farming Scholar develop towards a wider leadership role within British Agriculture. The biennial award for UK-based scholars is supported by the FCCT.

“We are delighted to sponsor this new Award in my father’s memory,” says Meryl Ward NSch, FCCT Trustee and Director of Ermine Farms. “Leadership training is an investment that is transformative for the individual, their business and the wider industry. If we inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, we will have achieved our ambition.”

NEW FCCT TRUSTEE

Christine Tacon CBE has been appointed as a Trustee of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. Formerly the Groceries Code Adjudicator, and now head of Red Tractor, Christine started her career as an engineer, before roles in marketing and running the Co-operative Group’s farming business.