The Oxford Farming Conference

Ash Amirahmadi

Managing Director, Arla Foods UK

Session: Trade, Trade, Trade

Ash Amirahmadi is a highly regarded leader in the UK food and farming sector, whose career at Arla Foods has been focused on growing revenues by meeting consumers’ needs for nutritious, affordable and more sustainable dairy products, thereby delivering financial stability and returns for the company’s farmer owners.

He has been the Managing Director of Arla Foods UK since July 2018 having joined the company more than 15 years ago. Ash began his career at Unilever after graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Mechanical Engineering degree.

He held a number of positions in supply chain and commercial functions before being recruited into Arla’s UK business in 2004. After further success in commercial roles, Ash joined the Arla Leadership Team in 2010, assuming responsibility for Arla’s relationships with its farmer owners. In 2012 he oversaw Arla’s transformative merger with the Milk Link cooperative. He later moved on to briefly hold the position of Marketing Director before becoming Sales Director in 2016 with responsibility for growing Arla’s business with UK customers. 

During his tenure as Sales Director Ash oversaw a 120-strong commercial team with delivered sales growth of £200 million and a 9% uplift in the company’s branded sales. Since he became Managing Director two years ago Arla Foods UK has continued to grow and now has revenues in excess of £2 billion in this country, making the cooperative Britain’s leading dairy company.

Ash is the newly-elected Chair of the board of Dairy UK. He also serves on the UK Government’s Food Resilience Forum set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arla Foods is a dairy cooperative owned by approximately 9,900 farmers across several European countries. Around 2,300 of its owners are in the UK, representing between a quarter and a third of all British dairy farmers. The cooperative employs more than 3,800 people at 10 sites across England and Scotland, and is a leading supplier of fresh milk, butter, spreads and cream, as well as the country’s largest cheese manufacturer. 

Sarah Appleby

Owner, Appleby Dairy

Session: Inspiring Farmers

Dairy farming is in Sarah Appleby’s blood despite being lured briefly to London. When she met and married Paul Appleby nearly 20 years ago, they returned to his family farm in Shropshire. 

Appleby's Dairy was founded by Paul's grandparents in 1952, in the stable next to the farmhouse kitchen. The farm has recently undergone a conversion towards a more regenerative approach to milk production. The importance of the provenance of our cheese was a driving force for these changes, as was the desire to be less industrial whilst bringing the brand into the 21st century with an ethos that gave their farm a future

James Bailey

CEO, Waitrose

Session: Trade, Trade, Trade

James Bailey is the executive director (CEO) of Waitrose UK. He began his career as a management trainee in the National Health Service (NHS) for three years, followed by three years in financial services.

He worked for Sainsbury’s for 18 years, rising to grocery buying director, before leaving in 2019.

He joined Waitrose in April 2020.

Professor Tim Benton

Lead, Energy, Environment and Resources programme, Chatham House

Session: The Science Lecture

Professor Tim Benton leads the Energy, Environment and Resources programme at Chatham House. He joined Chatham House in 2016 as a distinguished visiting fellow, when he was also dean of strategic research initiatives at the University of Leeds.

From 2011-2016 he was the “champion” of the UK’s Global Food Security programme which was a multi-agency partnership of the UK’s public bodies (government departments, devolved governments and research councils) with an interest in the challenges around food.

He has worked with UK governments, the EU and G20. He has been a global agenda steward of the World Economic Forum, and is an author of the IPCC’s Special Report on Food, Land and Climate (2019), and the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment.

He has published more than 150 academic papers, many tackling how systems respond to environmental change. His work on sustainability leadership has been recognised with an honorary fellowship of the UK’s Society for the Environment, and a doctorate honoris causa from the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium.

Paul Costello

Farmer and Owner, Grasmilch Brandenburg

Session: Inspiring Farmers

Paul, his brother Stephen and father Billy own and operate a number a farms throughout Ireland, the UK and Germany. Namely pigs, tillage and dairy along with pioneering new techniques in the renewable energy sector.

They have been in the pig industry in Germany since 1991, with Paul and Stephen running the German operation from 2010. By 2014 the brothers had purchased a large dairy and tillage operation near their other farms, with the vision that it would be a solution to slurry and growing their own feed for the pigs.

Along with the farm was a 400 cow herd consisting of high yielding indoor Holsteins. Today they run 1000 cows on pasture, 365 days a year. Producing milk from pasture in Germany is not a common occurrence, the vast majority of Germany's dairy herd is indoor Holsteins. The small amount of pasture milk on the market is constituted by cows allowed access to pasture for 120 days per year for six hours a day (around 8% of the calendar year).

They credit their success in this type of production to a number of factors such as making big investments in their breeding and genetics, their grassland and infrastructure. 

Angus Davison

Chairman, Haygrove

Session: Inspiring Farmers

Lying in the Sahara desert at 21, Angus Davison wrote 10 life aims. Across the top was to “do something remarkable, dammit!”. The  thought was driven by an inexplicable fear of mediocrity, a sudden realisation that he was ridiculously lucky compared to so many, an obligation to max every minute, to share good fortune and to try to create more wherever he could.

Haygrove is the vehicle. It’s not about more hectares of more berries (now c.500ha across 4 countries), nor more polytunnels (now covering more than 30 crop types in over 50 countries). It’s about contributing to a new definition of “business”, working with strong (and often quirky!) personalities, and striving to live their collective potential.

John Elkington

Founder & Chief Pollinator, Volans

Session: Frank Parkinson Lecture

John Elkington is one of the founders of the global sustainability movement, an experienced advisor to business, and a highly regarded keynote speaker and contributor, from conferences to advisory boards.

In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the ‘1000 Most Influential People’ in London, describing him as “a true green business guru”, and as “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable”.  In 2009, a CSR International survey of the Top 100 CSR leaders placed John fourth: after Al Gore, Barack Obama and the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and alongside Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank.

John has addressed over 1,000 conferences around the world. He was a faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008. He has served on over 70 boards and advisory boards. John has won numerous awards and is the author or co-author of 20 books. The 20th book was published in April: Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism(Fast Company Press).

The Rt Hon George Eustice MP

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, England

Session: Politics

George Eustice was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 February 2020. He was previously Minister of State at Defra from 11 May 2015 to 13 February 2020. He is the Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth, and has beenan MP continuously since 6 May 2010.

Coming from a farming background, his family still run a fruit farm, restaurant and farm shop in Cornwall where they also have a herd of South Devon cattle and the country’s oldest herd of the rare breed of pig, the British Lop. The family have shown a keen interest in educating children about farming and have opened their farm to 3000 schoolchildren a year.

Will Evans

Arable and Beef Farmer, Podcast Host and Co-founder, Eat Farm Now

Session: OFC Debate

Will Evans is a beef and arable farmer from Bangor on Dee, in North East Wales.

He produces and hosts the award-winning podcast Rock & Roll Farming, which he started in March 2017 with the aim of showcasing agriculture and the people involved to the wider public. The podcast has now been downloaded over a million times in over a hundred different countries.

He is the co-founder and community manager of eatfarmnow.com, the fast-growing digital hub that brings together farming and food related content, including podcasts, videos, and blogs, from all around the World.

Fergus Ewing MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Scotland

Session: Politics

Fergus Ewing is MSP for Inverness and Nairn, and was first elected in 1999, having been re-elected on four occasions.

He is the elder son of Winnie Ewing. Educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh, he graduated in law from Glasgow University before serving his apprenticeship and then running his own legal practice.

After decades of bagging Munros, completing marathons and serving as a member of Lomond Mountain Rescue Team, he now engages in more sedentary pursuits such as the piano, listening to jazz and doing crosswords

Lesley Griffiths MS

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Wales.

Session: Politics

Lesley Griffiths was brought up in North East Wales and has lived and worked in Wrexham all her adult life.

Prior to her election she worked as constituency assistant to Ian Lucas, MP. As a strong supporter of devolution for Wales, she played an active role in the 1997 'Yes for Wales' campaign, and is a member of Unison.

She was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in May 2007 and served on several Assembly Committees. She set up and chaired the Cross Party Hospice Group.

In December 2009, she was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills. Following re-election to the National Assembly for Wales in May 2011, Lesley was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services and in March 2013 was appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business.

In September 2014, she was appointed Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. In May 2016, following re-election, she was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs. Lesley was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs on 3 November 2017. On 13 December 2018 Lesley was appointed Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs.

She also worked at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital for 20 years.

Aled Rhys Jones

Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer, Consultant, Presenter and Broadcaster

Session: OFC Debate

Aled Rhys Jones is a farmer’s son from Carmarthenshire, West Wales. He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer and recently established a consultancy business called ON THE LAND.

Alongside his professional work, he is a radio presenter and broadcaster. He is the lead presenter on the Welsh language farming show called “Bwletin Amaeth” on BBC Radio Cymru and hosts a number of podcasts including Ear to the Ground. Aled is also a Nuffield Farming Scholar and is an accomplished after dinner speaker and compère.

He appeared in the Oxford Union debate at the 2016 Oxford Farming Conference.

Edwin Poots

Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland

Session: Politics

Edwin Poots MLA was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 25 June 1998 for the constituency of Lagan Valley.  Mr Poots was educated at Wallace High School in Lisburn, and later studied at Greenmount Agricultural College.

He is married with four children.  He previously served on Lisburn City Council.   Mr Poots was a member of the Environment Committee and chaired the Committee of the Centre (Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister) in the 1998–2003 Assembly.  On 8 May 2007, he was appointed Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Northern Ireland Executive, a post he held until 9 June 2008.  He was subsequently made Deputy Mayor of Lisburn on 23 June 2008.  On 1 July 2009 Mr Poots was returned to the Executive as Minister of the Environment.  In May 2011, he was appointed as Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety until 23 September 2014.  From 2014 to 2016 he was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, Committee for Justice and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.  During the previous mandate Mr Poots was a member of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Committee on Procedures. 

Following the restoration of devolved government Mr Poots, took up his role as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 11 January.

Tim Smith

Chairman, Trade & Agriculture Commission

Session: Trade, Trade, Trade

For more than three decades Tim Smith had leading roles with manufacturers in the food sector including Northern Foods, Sara Lee, Express Dairies, and Arla Foods plc. 

Tim served as the Group Quality Director at Tesco plc between 2012 and 2017 and, prior to joining Tesco plc, he spent five years as Chief Executive of the UK Food Standards Agency.  

Tim is a Non-Executive Director of Cranswick plc and, since May 2019, has been a Non-Executive Director for Pret A Manger.  He sits on the Boards of the University of Leeds, Farm Africa and NARF.    

Rob Ward

Founder, ForwardFood.Tech Ltd & Agri-FoodTech Dealmaker for UK DiT Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

Session: Trade, Trade, Trade

Rob Ward was a farmer for the first 30 years of his life, on the family farm in Shropshire, which became one of the largest soft fruit suppliers to the UK supermarkets.

While developing and running this business, he also patented the world's first commercially available field-scale hydroponics strawberry growing system. The DNA of this AgTech innovation can today be found in 90% of commercial UK strawberry production. 

After successfully selling the farming and hydroponics businesses, he created built and sold three other food businesses. These range from FoodTech, Farm Shop retail and wholesale distribution; Food & Drink products.

Awarded a Nuffield Farming Research Scholarship in 2008, he undertook a world study tour researching innovation in grocery retail and food products, which led onto developing an international platform for farming and food businesses and trade contacts.  

Since 2014 Rob has been located in London, initially co-founding the world’s first food products Seed investment Accelerator, and since exiting this business in 2019, to create ForwardFood.Tech, is on a mission with his very capable team, to discover and develop the next generation of Agri-Food Tech innovations. 

Recently appointed as the Agri-FoodTech DiT Dealmaker for the Global Entrepreneurs Programme, Rob is working with brands in this sector from across the entire planet and determined to demonstrate how the farming and food industry can contribute to positively to solving climate change challenges and also have a profitable future for the farming and food industry.

Peter Wiggins-Davies

CEO, Revesby Estate

Session: OFC Debate

Peter Wiggins-Davies is the CEO of his family’s Revesby Estate, located in the heart of rural Lincolnshire. 

The Estate’s commercial operations are diverse and exciting. The Estate’s core business consist of 11 enterprises in five sectors: growing, retail products, retail memories, lettings, and investments. 

Peter is an enthusiastic advocate of personal development. He graduated with honours from Harper Adams University. He has also completed the Worshipful Company of Farmers’ Advanced Business Management course, and University College London’s Growth Hacker Course. Peter is also a 2017 Nuffield Scholar, with the Nuffield Trust awarding him the John Steward trophy for the best presentation for his year group.

Nikki Yoxall

New entrant farmer

Session: OFC Debate

With over a decade of experience of working in education and leadership roles, Nikki Yoxall has recently become a new entrant farmer since moving to Scotland three years ago. Using agroecological methods, she and her husband have built up a small herd of native and rare breed cattle on a low input system, selling beef through direct sales.

Nikki has roles with the Pasture Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) and Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and still works part time in Education at Moray College, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. 

She is passionate about farming with nature and the restorative role livestock can play in land management, and this year became a Farming Ambassador for the Soil Association.