GEORGE EUSTANCE JOINS COMPANY PROVIDING POTATO TRIAL WORK AS BOARD ADVISOR
FORMER Secretary of State at DEFRA, George Eustice, is now working with the senior management team at Emerald Research as a Board Advisor regarding policy and regulatory affairs in the environment, agri-food and natural capital sectors.
Simon Fox, MD at the company which carries out trial work and owns the OptiYield® brand, said George’s background will align well with ERL’s work. Emerald looks at ways of improving potato crop yields and reliability while reducing environmental impacts and inputs of fertiliser and pesticides. ERL’s OptiYield soil analysis test programme provides detailed findings of the soil’s ability to deliver necessary nutrient conditions for optimum crop establishment, growth and yield.
George has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the legislative process and the importance of balancing food security, maximising yield and the environment
George said: “Improving the precision of nutrient inputs to crops and combining these inputs with microbials and biological stimulants to enhance the efficiency of uptake is going play an important role in reducing nitrogen use and improving farm profitability. Emerald Research have developed some ground-breaking products that have a proven track record in the potato sector and I am delighted to be joining the team.”
While in office, George developed the future farming policy that supported growers to improve soil health. Since leaving government two years ago, he has been developing his own business, Penbroath Ltd, and is involved in projects as diverse as supporting methane capture from farms to natural capital markets.
Simon said: “His experience and knowledge will help ERL to improve and focus while navigating the ever-changing regulatory landscape.”
