Potato Review

36 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 APPOINTMENTS SOPA Appoints New Chairman AFTER ve years as the Chairman at SOPA, Edward Smith stepped down from the helm in August 2022. Edward had a signi cant in uence on the organic co-operative, bringing about nancial stability, new sta to supplement the existing Membership Services and a strategic plan giving clear direction for the next ve years. Edward will remain on the SOPA board as Director. Following seven years as board director, Roger Baird has now been appointed as the new Chairman. Roger began trading organic combinable crops around 20 years ago and joined the SOPA Board in 2015. He said: “I believe the present farming environment is at the crux of Scottish Government’s vision to make Scottish agriculture more sustainable, protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. No other means of food production o ers the proven suite of complementary bene ts to deliver the gold standard for sustainable agriculture. “Frommy experience, any growth in the organic sector must be tailored to demand to avoid the oversupply we witnessed a decade ago and the subsequent dismantling of organic premia, leading to market disruption. We want to help our members maintain a sustainable and steady growth of their businesses so they can continue to o er the wide environmental bene ts associated with organic food production. Our emphasis on nutritional value, chemical- free food, and soil health will be at the very heart of our work in what looks to be a bright future.” Gordon Whiteford of Lower Mill of Tynet farm in Fochabers, remains Vice Chair. He has been in post since Aug 2017. Jim takes the helm to steer five- year growth plan NATIONAL potato supplier Branston has appointed a new Managing Director. e company’s former Financial Director at Branston, JimWindle, has been promoted to the role, with James Truscott as Group Managing Director for the next six months to ensure a smooth transition. Having joined Branston in 2015 as its Financial Director, Jim has been acting as Deputy Managing Director for some time and brings 20 years of professional experience to his new role - almost eight of which have been spent at Branston. e supplier is currently investing in a factory to extract the valuable protein fraction from outgrade potatoes, with B-hive Innovations and Root Extracts Ltd, two of its sister companies focused on developing agritech capabilities. is is one of a number of plans it has in the pipeline as part of a ve- year growth plan. Jim said: “We are constantly looking at new ways we can adapt and ensure our entire supply chain from eld to shelf edge is managed in a sustainable and responsible way. It is our job to work with our growers and customers to ensure our versatile staple product provides excellent value and quality for all our customers, the importance of which has never been in more focus than in these challenging times. e current climate is uncertain for many businesses in the UK across almost every sector, but we are very well placed to drive our position forwards as experts in our broader sector, not just as potato suppliers.” Fertiliser provider makes new appointment TIMAC Agro UK, which provides sustainable fertiliser options, has appointed Nico Papworth as its new commercial manager. Nico, who grew up on an arable farm in Norfolk before studying at Harper Adams University, joins the business after two years as head of both membership and the fertiliser management at Worldmarsh Producers. He said: “Helping to support our expanding portfolio of arable customers and managing our trusted distributor relationships are my priorities within the role. Our growing team will be liaising with farmers to introduce the Timac arable product range to the UK market, while also delivering considered on-farm advice and industry leading logistics.” AgTech firm grows technical farm support team AGRI-TECH veteran Louise Rix has joined Trinity AgTech in a grower-facing role as Customer Success Manager. She will support new and existing grower customers to measure and optimise their natural capital assets using Trinity AgTech’s smart natural capital navigator, Sandy. Louise has more than 10 years’ experience working in customer-facing roles working directly with growers. She said: “Coming from a farming family, I have a genuine desire to support British agriculture on its road to net zero and for proactive farmers to be rewarded through the harnessing of data and delivery of tech.” Roger Baird Edward Smith