Down to Earth South Speakers
June 21, 2023 | Haselbury Plucknett, SomersetNeil Baker
Host of Down to Earth South 2023
Speaker Bio
John Allen
Kite Consulting
Speaker Bio
John works across the UK and the EU as well as having undertaken projects in the US and Eastern Europe. John’s areas of expertise include strategic planning, marketing, supply chain management, change and people management. He works with some of the UK’s leading farmers as well as major food and dairy processors and retailers.
Ffinlo Costain
Chief Editor of 8.9ha, Farm Gate Podcast. Founder, Food & Global Security Network
Speaker Bio
ffinlo is the Chief Editor of 8point9.com and has worked in farming and food business policy for over 20 years. As Chief Executive of Farmwel (2016-2022) he gave evidence to UK parliamentary committees, advised ministers and the Committee on Climate Change on the role of agricultural climate gases, and worked with FAI Farms to deliver the Regen Dairy project on behalf of international dairy brands. ffinlo has presented at the European Parliament, advised ministers and senior leadership teams in many European countries, and he chaired the Farming in Protected Landscapes funding panel for Cranborne Chase AONB (2021-2023).
Emily Bull
Senior Researcher, FAI Farms
Speaker Bio
Emily Bull is a Senior Researcher at FAI Farms and has a keen interest in regenerative agriculture, particularly the use of livestock within these systems. Emily is currently coordinating a ‘Regen Dairy’ project with leading food brands as well as working on the Arla regenerative pilot project. Emily grew up on a mixed livestock farm in Devon and previously managed a calf rearing unit, she studied livestock agriculture at the RAU and has recently joined the FAI team where she has trained in the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Jo Lawrence
Global Senior Manager (Agriculture Sustainability), Arla Foods
Speaker Bio
Jo grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Cumbria, graduating from Durham University in 2012. She started her career as category assistant for dairy in Sainsbury’s commercial division before moving to ABP Food Group as calf rearing manager. She then returned to Sainsbury’s as a member of the agriculture team in 2015, covering both dairy and beef supply chains. Jo joined Arla in 2021 and is now global senior manager in Agriculture Sustainability leading on the development of Regenerative Farming, including participation in cross industry collaborations like OP2B and SAI Platform.
Oliver Rubinstein
Customer Success Manager, Trinity AgTech
Speaker Bio
Paul Redmore
Regenerative Farmer
Speaker Bio
Ben Williams
Sustainability Manager, Glanbia Cheese
Speaker Bio
Eleanor Brown
Deputy CVO
Speaker Bio
Pete O’Malley
Synergy Vets
Speaker Bio
Tom Angel
Synergy Vets
Speaker Bio
Rachel Hayton
Director, British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA)
Speaker Bio
Rachel is a farm vet at Synergy Farm Health and a director of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
She has a special interest in sustainability and is a member of the Vet Sustain Food and Farming Working Group and the practice Green Group. As the Synergy research lead, she manages a wide and varied programme including innovative diagnostics and clinical approaches to infectious disease, nutrition, udder, foot and youngstock health. Rachel also offers a mastitis advisory service and carries out training on topics relating to milk quality and the responsible use of medicines.
She was responsible for the first BCVA Sustainability Policy in 2021 and sits on a number of industry committees, including RUMA Targets Task Force and chairing the Medicine Hub Industry Liaison Group.
Sarah Pederson
Farm Dynamics Ltd
Speaker Bio
Sara graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2005 and has worked in the farm animal sector ever since. Before she returned home to South Wales in 2014, she spent time in farm practice in a number of different areas of the UK in addition to short periods working for a pharmaceutical company and volunteering overseas. She now runs a consultancy business that provides training and advisory services on topics relating to cow welfare, with a specific focus on cattle lameness. She is also a Director of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), a member of the Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group and member of the Welsh Government’s Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group.
Sophie Gregory
Speaker Bio
Sophie farms with her husband Tom at Home Farm on the Sadborow Estate which is an organic dairy farm just over 1,000 acres in the Dorset countryside. They have been organic for more than eight years. Their farm consists of 360 dairy cows.
The Gregory family are first-generation organic farmers. They farm in partnership with another local organic farmer. They have also been following regenerative farming princples including mob grazing and grassing parts of the farm that has re-establish clover and improved soil health. Three years ago, they made the decision to stop ploughing and instead drill into paddocks. On a weekly basis, the farm measures grass and use this valuable data to choose the paddocks that need refreshing.
Sophie is very focused on working with the community, this includes hosting school trips, farming discussion groups, and going into schools to teach children about dairy farming. Sophie feels responsible to encourage people from non-agricultural background into the industry and employees apprentices and work experience students to learn more about farming. She won the Women in Dairy, 2021 Dairy Woman of the Year Award.
Rob Hodgkins
Farmer
Speaker Bio
She has a special interest in sustainability and is a member of the Vet Sustain Food and Farming Working Group and the practice Green Group. As the Synergy research lead, she manages a wide and varied programme including innovative diagnostics and clinical approaches to infectious disease, nutrition, udder, foot and youngstock health. Rachel also offers a mastitis advisory service and carries out training on topics relating to milk quality and the responsible use of medicines.
She was responsible for the first BCVA Sustainability Policy in 2021 and sits on a number of industry committees, including RUMA Targets Task Force and chairing the Medicine Hub Industry Liaison Group.
Jo Hodgkins
Farmer
Speaker Bio
John Gililand
Consultant, AHDB
Speaker Bio
The Gregory family are first-generation organic farmers. They farm in partnership with another local organic farmer. They have also been following regenerative farming princples including mob grazing and grassing parts of the farm that has re-establish clover and improved soil health. Three years ago, they made the decision to stop ploughing and instead drill into paddocks. On a weekly basis, the farm measures grass and use this valuable data to choose the paddocks that need refreshing.
Sophie is very focused on working with the community, this includes hosting school trips, farming discussion groups, and going into schools to teach children about dairy farming. Sophie feels responsible to encourage people from non-agricultural background into the industry and employees apprentices and work experience students to learn more about farming. She won the Women in Dairy, 2021 Dairy Woman of the Year Award.
Sajjad Awan
Soil and Crop Agronomist, NRM
Speaker Bio
Sajjad Awan is the Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist for NRM, the UK’s largest agricultural testing laboratory. He has a PhD in plant physiology, genetics, molecular biology and gene regulation from the University of Warwick, and has 15 years’ experience in fertilisers, soil and crop nutrition management, and agronomy. Sajjad’s role at NRM involves identifying key trends and providing expert advice to help improve nutrient use efficiency, increase margins, and protect the environment. He was instrumental in the revision and development of AHDB’s Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) document, which helps guide all crop nutrition recommendations for the agriculture industry.
Andrew Sincock
Commercial Director, Agriton Group & 2023 Nuffield Scholar
Speaker Bio
Andrew Sincock is the joint owner and director of Agriton and Agro-Vital, two companies looking to increase on farm efficiencies and reduce inputs, as well as a 2023 Nuffield Farming Scholar. His Nuffield study topic is trying to understand how Organic Manures can be managed most effectively, with the aim of helping reduce on farm losses and emissions, while also trying to improve soil health and fertility. Andrew’s practical on farm experience helps provide realistic management advice for any farm. He is also co-host of the Regenerative Agriculture: Buzzwords and Bull***t Podcast.
Lisa Hambly
Head of Grassland and Forage Agronomy, Mole Valley Farmers
Speaker Bio
Lisa Hambly heads up the Grassland and Forage Agronomy team at Mole Valley Farmers.
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Mike Bray
Speaker Bio
Maime Sloan
Speaker Bio
Hefin Richards
Speaker Bio
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Mollie Cresswell
Marketing and Strategic Account Manager, Feedlync
Speaker Bio
Richard Geuterbock
Director, Food Chains
Speaker Bio
Mark Clayton
Aardvark
Speaker Bio
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Francis Dunne
Speaker Bio
Roger Bacon
Barenbrug
Speaker Bio
James White
Barenbrug
Speaker Bio
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Bess Jowsey
Speaker Bio
Rose Jackson
Kite Consulting
Speaker Bio
Josh Batterham
Tyndale Vets
Speaker Bio
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Alasdair Moffatt
Landscape Recovery Manager, Upper Axe C.I.C.
Speaker Bio
Colin Orr
Owner/Founder, ForageTech
Speaker Bio
Jade Prince
Services Specialist, Hutchinsons
Speaker Bio
Lisa has significant experience and expertise in the field of grassland management with a particular interest and passion for soil health and crop nutrition. Lisa and her team’s work at Mole Valley Farmers focuses on helping farmers improve their management of grassland, forage and soils, with the aim to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mole Valley Farmers, Lisa was an agronomist with Agrovista UK. She is BASIS and FACTS qualified with wide experience in cropping and all aspects of grassland management.
Lisa has recently returned from a farm study tour in Ohio and looks forward to sharing at Down to Earth learnings from the regenerative journey of farms in the US.
Rob Havard
Regenerative Farmer