CAC Board

 

The Cornwall Agri-food Council

The Cornwall Agri-food Council (CAC) represents the views of the agricultural, horticultural, food and land based industries in Cornwall. It is an apolitical group that meets quarterly to debate and progress relevant industry issues.

The Strategic Aim of the CAC is ‘to encourage the continuous improvement of the profitability and sustainability of agriculture, horticulture, food and the land-based sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’.

The Strategic Goals of the CAC are:

1. Supply Chain Development
2. Carbon Reduction
3. Water and Energy Security
4. Food Security (including food poverty)

The CAC provides a coordinating voice for the industry and encourages debate around critical issues and topics. It generates strategic responses and Input is also provided regarding the development of proposed European Funding Schemes.

The Cornwall Agri-food Council’s Strategy for Agriculture, Horticulture, Food and Land Based Industries in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was completed and launched during the Summer of 2010.

If you would like any further information please contact the Cornwall Agricultural Council Development Team (CACDT).

Catherine Mead

Catherine Mead, Owner and Director of Lynher Dairies Cheese Company is the Chair of the Cornwall Agri-food Council.
 
Catherine spent 10 years in London advertising agencies: international agency Ogilvy and Mather and later, the independent creative agency Waldron, Allen Henry and Thompson, as an Account Director. Main accounts included Welsh Development Agency, Drink Drive Campaign, American express, Milk Marketing Board and British Tourist Authority.

In 1989 she moved with husband Ben to Pengreep Farm in west Cornwall to take on the running of the family Dairy farm.

Whilst Ben was involved in the restructuring of the farm Catherine worked as a marketing consultant in Devon and Cornwall on projects that included the launch of Food From Cornwall and a study on opportunities for food businesses with Devon and Cornwall Development International before joining Lynher Dairies (makers of Cornish Yarg Cheese) as the Marketing Director.

By 1999 the original cheese processing unit was taken to its capacity and in 2000 a new production unit was built at Pengreep. In 2006 all the production was moved to the Pengreep Farm unit.

Lynher Dairies Cheese Company is now one of the largest national producers of Speciality Cheese producing 200 tonnes per annum, supplying specialist wholesalers and the multiples nationally and internationally.

Aside from the running of LDCC commitments include:

  • Chair of the Cornwall Agri Food Council – membership organisation representing agriculture and land based sector in Cornwall
  • Vice Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Regional Implementation Group (strategic body associated with the Rural development Programme for England)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
  • Board Member of the Specialist Cheese Makers Association

Contact Details:

Lynher Dairies Cheese Company

Ponsanooth

Truro

Cornwall TR3 7JH

Phone: 01872 870789

Email: cmead@lynherdairies.co.uk

Web. www.lynherdairies.co.uk

Andrew May

Andrew May is the Vice Chair of the Cornwall Agri-food Council
 
Andrew May is the vice chair of the Cornwall Agri-food Council. Andrew is also the chair of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and Managing Director of Mainland Marketing.

Jonny Alford

Jonny Alford is the Treasurer for the Cornwall Agri-food Council. He works for Cornwall Council managing the operational property including the Councils’ County Farms Service. This extends to a total of 11,400 acres based around 104 farms. 

The estate is managed to provide a gateway into rural business; the majority of opportunities are dairy farms, although there is a broad mix of opportunities from poultry through to equestrian.

The estate is a microcosm of the County’s agriculture; resulting in the Service dealing with the same issues as other rural businesses. Diversification away from core agricultural production is supported but only where a proven robust business case exists to ensure any new enterprise is sustainable for the medium term future.

Jonny sees his role on the CAC as representing the farming community, ensuring that the work of the CAC brings benefits to that community. We need to have a clear strategy as a industry ensuring focussed activity resulting in improvements at the farm gate; we need to forge strong links with the Food sector; and we need work closely with the Public Sector to ensure our voice is heard and that out aspirations are written in to Public Policy. 

 

Peter Hardaker

Peter Hardaker has worked in Land Based Industries for all his working life and in the Agricultural Supply Sector for the last 34 years of employment, in Cornwall.  He retired in 2003 from the position of CEO of Cornwall Farmers Ltd, the South West Agricultural Supply Co-operative.  He served as a non-executive Director of The Eden Project for 10 years until April 09.

Peter still has significant involvement with the Land Based Sector. He serves on the Regional Implementation Group for the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and Chairs the RDPE Implementation Group for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; he is a Director of the Cornwall Agri-food Council; a Governor of the Cornwall College Corporation; he is also a Director of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and Kernow Grain Ltd.

Peter has been committed with others to deliver a strategy for positive change and has been involved in trying to build new confidence and make a real difference to the Cornish and Isles of Scilly economy.

Steve Parsons

Steve Parsons is a member of the Cornwall Agri-food Council Board and is also the immediate past Principal of Duchy College and currently Deputy Chief Executive of Cornwall College Group. He qualified in Agriculture at Harper Adams and Seale-Hayne. Steve farmed practically in his early years and then entered a career in education and training. He has always remained very close to the farming industry and has a keen business sense. Steve is totally committed to maximising the benefit of RDPE funding for Cornwall, particularly in the land based sector.

"I am proud to say that for a while I had the honour and privilege of chairing the Council - an organisation I fervently believe in".

Phil Ugalde

Phil Ugalde, a true Cornishman, is MD of the Proper Cornish Food Company, which also owns Furniss – the Cornish biscuit company – employing 220 staff across the two businesses.  Phil has been in the food manufacturing industry for twenty years, and has a real passion for Cornwall and the food it produces.  Phil grew up on a farm near Liskeard and is a qualified agricultural engineer and spent his life in the motor trade until 1987.

Phil was Chairman of the Cornwall Pasty Association, and was a key driver in obtaining PGI status for the Cornish pasty.

Phil was also Chairman of the Cornwall Food and Drink Group which has now merged with CAC with a view to building partnership with local prime producers to enable market competitive local sourcing. He also sits on the Training Advisory Committee at Duchy College.

Proper Cornish is a Beacon South West Company, and Phil’s regular attendance at their events ensures he has regular networking opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas with key businesses in the south west.

Martin Stanbury

Martin is a board member of the Cornwall Agri-food Council and a farmer from North Cornwall.

Jonathon Jones DHE, NSch, MIHort.

Jonathon Jones, Garden and Commercial Director at Tregothnan has always been a keen gardener. A Cornishman himself, he studied Horticulture at Duchy College and gained experience locally with some passionate and knowledgeable gardeners in Cornwall, including at Probus Demonstration Garden. Then, in Edinburgh, he studied Botanical Horticulture. Upon graduation in 1993, he was awarded a Ken Thomas scholarship to Japan, later extended to employment in authentic Japanese landscapes and horticultural production. At the age of 25 he was appointed Head Gardener at Tregothnan where the range of responsibilities includes 100 acres of private garden.

Along with the CAC, he serves on a number of boards in the UK including Plimsoll Publishing, the world leader in business intelligence.  In 2008 Jonathon was awarded the Goodman Cup for ‘outstanding contribution to Cornish Horticulture’.