Potato Review

APPOINTMENTS Export specialist is biopesticide company’s new CEO UK-based biopesticide company, Ecospray, has appointed a former Agrovisata specialist as it new Chief Executive Officer Peter McDonald will take over from the beginning of May 2022, succeeding Robert Lidstone, the current CEO, who will retire in June. Peter has been head of commercial strategy and responsible for export business at Agrovista UK since 2016. Prior to that, he had senior roles in AF Group, the largest UK farmer-owned buying group where he was responsible for crop protection purchasing. He has also held senior roles in Monsanto in the Philippines and Certis Europe where he was Country Manager in the UK responsible for both the conventional crop protection business as well as the macro biologicals business BCP. He also spent 12 years working for Syngenta in Asia during his early career. He said he has seen demand for Ecospray’s botanical nematicide products based on garlic extract grow globally over the years. “The science base the company has is extensive and, in the world of climate change, having sustainable products is crucial for farmers and growers. I am truly excited at the opportunity to take the company on to the next stage of its evolution.” Ecospray products are currently soil-applied nematicides. Ecospray Chairman Edward van Cutsem said: “Nematodes are the single most important cause of crop losses world-wide in a wide variety of crops. There are many different types of plant pathogenic nematodes, but they all have two features in common - they cause yield reduction and potentially, total crop loss and they cause significant reduction in crop quality and therefore marketability and overall value.” The Society of Nematology and other organisations estimated in 2015 that crop loss due to nematodes alone was $100 billion annually. NEWPRESIDENT FOR AEA THEAgricultural Engineers Associationhas appointedDavidWithers, ManagingDirector of ISEKI UK& Ireland, to serve as its President. Davidhas been an activemember of theAEA formany years, serving on theOutdoor Power Equipment Council since 2000 and this is his second termas a Boardmember. He said: “New technologies are driving change at ever greater pace and withpossible post-Brexit standards’ divergence, the supply chain crisiswe face, andnowhanging over everything, thewar inUkraine, theAEAhas never beenmore important to itsmembers than right now” RuthBailey, CEOandDirector General of theAEA said: “These are challenging times, but not without opportunity andwe are delighted to haveDavidwithus as our next President. Davidworked closelywith our teamduring the recent BAGMAacquisition and already has goodworking relationships at all levels in theAEA.We all look forward toworkingwith himover the coming year.” Agronomy Co-op appoints new board members and seeks new MD A FOURTH generation potato grower has joined the board of independent agronomy advisory service, Scottish Agronomy. Amy Geddes farms at Wester Braikie Farms near Arbroath. With 320ha of potatoes, barley, winter oilseed rape and wheat, the family has been a member of Scottish Agronomy for more than 20 years. She said: “There is no doubt the quality and independence of the advice we have received over the years from Scottish Agronomy has been core to the success of our business. I am really looking forward to being part of the board and helping steer the strategic direction of the cooperative, particularly as we as farmers navigate the multiple challenges facing agriculture and an uncertain business environment.” Iain Wilson of Tulloch Farms also joined the board in April. WWW.AGRIMECH.CO.UK      +44 (0) 1354 638 222 From Service to Sales Jason, congratulations from us all at Agrimech on your recent promotion. Jason Rudolph - Technical Sales PALLETISING / WEIGHING / STITCHING / PLACING