The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has appointed seven new EBLEX board members to help in its work to add value to the beef and sheep meat industry.
New farmer members are Ed Green, Peter Baber, Steve Conisbee, Philip Abbott, James Evans and Duncan Nelless. Gill Fine joins as independent board member. All will take up their roles on 1st April.
Ed Green has 20 years industry experience, running a 915-acre mixed family farming business in Somerset, fattening beef cattle and growing a variety of arable crops. Ed also lambs 300 ewes and is a board member of the Meat South West and the NFU National Beef Group.
Peter Baber has been a commercial sheep farmer for the last 25 years, farming in Devon with 1,050 breeding ewes and 400 ewe lambs. He is chairman of several industry bodies, including Meat South West and the English Sheep Health and Welfare Group (SHAWG).
Former meat inspector Steve Conisbee, a ninth generation farmer and butcher, runs 400 cattle, 350 ewes and 4,000 turkeys from his 850-acre farm in Surrey. He has also sat on the NFU South East Livestock Board for six years.
Philip Abbott, a second generation farmer, runs a flock of 380 ewes on 198 acres in North Warwickshire with his wife Ailsa. He has been involved in farming all his life and also sits on the NFU national Livestock Board.
James Evans farms in partnership with father John and brother Rob in Shropshire, managing the livestock enterprises of 300 Stabiliser Suckler cows and 1,100 Lleyn X ewes. He is a director for the National Beef Association and is involved with the National Beef sector committee for the NFU.
Duncan Nelless farms with dad Henry and brother Angus, running 1,500 ewes and 110 suckler cows on 390 hectares in Northumberland. He has 25 years’ experience in the industry and has also been chairman of the Scottish and Borders Lleyn Breeders Club.
Gill Fine is a public health nutritionist, with 30 years’ experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors and is a former director, Consumer Choice and Dietary Health (CCDH) at the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
She said: “I’m thoroughly looking forward to joining the Board and believe my food policy making experience, strategic planning skills and scientific knowledge will add value to the team.”
As of 1st April, the board members will be:
Peter Baber / Andy Foot / Ed Green/ Gwyn Williams / Howard Bates / Steve Conisbee / John Cross / Philip Abbott / Mark Allan / Gill Fine / Paul Westaway / Richard Phelps / Rizvan Khalid / Ros Turner / James Evans / Duncan Nelless
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.