Kit Papworth has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as chair of Red Tractor’s combinable crops and sugar beet sector. This decision follows his election as chair of the National Farming Union (NFU) sugar board.
Papworth said that: “It is [with] a heavy heart that I will be stepping down from my role as a Red Tractor sector chair and a director of the company.
“I am a huge supporter of Red Tractor and farm assurance and will continue to champion its vital role in British agriculture at all levels of the industry. As a farmer, responsible for several businesses, I am regrettably unable to commit to both roles.
“The new chair will be joining a fantastic team with a real opportunity to create positive change in farm assurance,” he added.
Papworth is to remain chair for the combinable crops and sugar beet sector board for the immediate future, and Red Tractor said that it will have a clear, transparent recruitment process for his successor.
The recruitment and appointment of the new sector board chair will be overseen by a subcommittee of the combinable crops and sugar beet board and the Red Tractor Board’s nominations committee.
Alistair Mackintosh, interim chair of the Red Tractor Board said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to have Kit as chair of the sector board.
“He’s made a huge contribution to the development of Red Tractor’s programme, in particular through his open engagement with all stakeholders especially crops farmers.
“Kit has earnt the full support of the members of the crops board who are unanimously disappointed to see him step down. We wish Kit all the best in his new role and are grateful to him for his ongoing support for Red Tractor as we recruit a new crops chair,” he added.
Red Tractor
Red Tractor is the UK’s largest food and farm assurance scheme and represents over 48,000 farmers and growers across all areas of livestock and agriculture, accounting for 75% of UK agriculture production. 95% of poultry, and 90% of pork in the UK.
