Arable specialist James Copeland lands top NFU job (From Gazette & Herald)

Arable specialist James Copeland lands top NFU job

1:36pm Wednesday 24th June 2009 in

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JAMES Copeland is the latest recruit to join the NFU in the North East.

A farmer’s son from Driffield, James joins the NFU from York’s Food and Environment Research Agency (formerly Central Science Laboratory) where he spent nearly six years as part of the agri-environment and land use strategy team.

While with them he worked most recently on biofuels and bio-energy, but also spent time looking at GM issues and exploring possible strategies for co-existence and traceability.

This involved developing strategies for both food and feed supply chains all the way from seed production through to final products, focusing on supply chains for wheat, sugar beet, OSR and fresh table potatoes.

Having studied originally at Bishop Burton College and then at Harper Adams University College, James began his career with ADAS at High Mowthorpe.

Now in his new role as Food and Farming Adviser, James will work closely with the local farming community, providing advice and information on everything from farm policy and rural development to food chain issues.

Given his previous experience, he will specialise in three key commodity areas: combinable crops, sugar beet and horticulture and potatoes, with the aim of helping NFU members maximise the commercial benefits they get from the market place.

It’s a challenge he says he’s really looking forward to: “The work I was doing with FERA was very interesting and I certainly learned a lot about how policy is developed in line with scientific research work,” he said.

“I enjoyed the challenge of providing a practical perspective to aid the decision making process, but now want to get back to working more closely with farmers and the issues they face.

“As a result my first priority will be to get out and about to meet as many members as possible and do everything I can to assist them.”