John Cross has been appointed the first chairman of a new body given responsibility for overhauling England’s livestock traceability systems.
Cross will provide strategic leadership to Livestock Information Limited as it creates the Livestock Information Service (LIS), which will replace existing livestock tracing systems for cattle, sheep and pigs in England.
A fifth-generation farmer based in Norfolk, he was chairman of the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) from 2002 to 2015, and currently chairs the Traceability Design User Group (TDUG), the industry body set up to advise on the creation of LIS.
Cross has held many similar roles in the past, and in 2015 he was awarded the prestigious Royal Smithfield Club Prize for outstanding contributions to the Livestock Sector.
Livestock Information Ltd. was created in October 2019, as a subsidiary company of AHDB, owned 51% by AHDB and 49% by Defra.
Commenting on the appointment, AHDB chief executive Jane King said: “I’m delighted that John has accepted this post. His experience has earned him the respect and trust of the whole industry, making him the ideal leader for a programme which will set new standards for collaboration between Government and producers.
He’s been part of the Livestock Information programme from the early days, and I’m confident in his ability to lead the company to success as it moves into delivery, taking the programme from the drawing board and into the real world.”
Biosecurity Minister Lord Gardiner said: “I am delighted that John Cross has been appointed as the chairman of Livestock Information Limited. His work with stakeholders from across the meat and livestock sectors has been vital in driving the delivery of the Livestock Information Programme.
Through John’s leadership, the programme will continue to pioneer a new and closer way of working between government and industry that will cement the UK’s reputation for producing high quality, sustainable and trusted products.
John Cross added: “Livestock Information is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform the way traceability is managed in the livestock industry.
“The massive strides this programme has made since its inception will soon start to produce real-world results which will positively impact producers at all levels.
“As a farmer myself, I know what the sectors need world-class traceability to deliver, and as someone who’s supported the programme for many years, I can see the way we can make those changes come about in a user-friendly way. I’m thrilled to take up this opportunity on behalf of the farming industry as a whole”.
