QuestionTime

James Standen

James Standen is the farms director for Newcastle University Farms. The University has two farms, Cockle Park and Nafferton, which are farmed as one unit with a dairy herd, breeder finisher pig unit and arable enterprise. Most of the land is conventional although there is an area of organic land at Nafferton.

The farms have a commercial focus but provide a facility for teaching and research both for the University and other users. In addition. there is an AD & CHP plant at Cockle Park, short rotation coppice, woodland and let properties.

James also farms in partnership with his wife on a tenanted arable and livestock farm with a holiday let and fishing lakes. The farm is Leaf Marque certified and has a focus on environmental management.

James is also an appointee on the NFU Combinable Crops Board, a member of the Farm Management Board at Plumpton College, a council member of the Institute of Agricultural Management, a governor of Askham Bryan College and a director of their farming company.

Previously, James managed an estate in Kent covering 2,300 acres of arable of owned, rented and contract-farmed land, 1,000 acres of woodland, let properties, an in-hand shoot and a biomass boiler with a district heating system. The estate had previously had a dairy herd.

Prior to that James worked for Adas as a farm management consultant managing and advising a number of farms across the South East. He has also managed a large arable farm in North Yorkshire.

James is a commercial farming manager and has led a number of restructuring projects on farms. He has a keen interest in sustainable farming, environmental management and co-operation among farmers. James has a BSc in Agriculture and a MSc in Agricultural Economics from Wye College he is also BASIS and FACTS qualified.

John Renner

John Renner, Renner Farming and Leaf Demonstration Farmer

Their journey within sustainability started in 2003 with a mission of making the family business as sustainable as possible, while still achieving a great and, if not better, output.

Throughout this time John has drawn his attention to soil fertility and maximising our output through efficiencies - both of these areas are constantly evolving.

Ellen Holmes

Ellen is passionate about amplifying local voices when it comes to making change.

Through her role with Food Newcastle, she looks at food sustainability holisitically, acknowledging not only the importance of improving the environmental sustainability of our food culture in Newcastle, but also recognising the importance of tackling food insecurity, supporting local businesses and our catering and procurement choices when it comes to supporting Newcastle's residents effectively.

They work with a range of people across our network, from the local authority, to community-interest companies and charities, and the general public.

Nicholas Saphir

Nicholas was appointed as chair of AHDB in April 2020.

He has a wide background in agriculture and horticulture, having built a public company, farming, processing and trading fruit and vegetables in the UK, Europe, southern Africa and South America.

His dairy experience includes a period as a non-executive director of Dairy Crest leading up to its flotation and spending the last 18 years building the Organic Milk Producers' Cooperative (Omsco) into the world’s second-largest dedicated organic milk co-operative, with exports of cheese, butter and infant formula grade milk powders to the USA, EU and Australasia.

He also has a long and successful record of chairing industry and government bodies in the food and farming sector, including being the chair of the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Cooperation, founder chair of Food from Britain, president of the Fresh Produce Consortium and chair of the Agricultural Forum.

Julia Aglionby

Julia Aglionby is a land agent, professor of practice at Cumbria University and the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Penrith and Solway.

Specialising in common and uplands, Julia was on the board of Natural England and chaired the Uplands Alliance. At home Julia is trustee of Susan’s Farm; a care farm where she assists with livestock duties.