Chris Guest elected as new AIC Chair

Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) – the voice of UK agri-supply businesses – has elected Chris Guest as its Chair at a critical time for the industry.

As Managing Director of LS Plant Breeding Ltd and active member of the AIC Board, Cambridgeshire-based Mr Guest brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the role.

“I’m pleased to be elected as Chair of the AIC, the UK’s leading agri-supply trade association,” said Chris. “Given the current economic and political turmoil, it is paramount that our industry’s voice is heard by Government and other relevant bodies with strength and conviction.

“As the industry continues to experience exceptional change and disruption, I know the AIC is working extremely hard to ensure members’ interests are represented and I am committed to doing all that I can in this regard.

“AIC members form part of the bedrock of UK agriculture, supporting arable and livestock producers with invaluable knowledge and expertise along with inputs and merchanting support. This has never been more vital as we collectively strive to deliver a modern, commercial and sustainable agriculture.”

Chris takes over from Angela Booth, Director of Responsibility at AB Agri, who has completed her two-year term as AIC Board Chair. As the immediate past Chair, she will continue to serve as a Board member for a further year.

Robert Sheasby, Chief Executive of AIC, said: “I welcome Chris to his new position and look forward to working together to promote the agri-supply industry as a cornerstone of thriving and sustainable UK food production.

“Chris has been a prominent member of the AIC Board for four years, and I have no doubt that he will work tirelessly to promote members’ interests across UK agriculture and beyond.

“I must thank Angela Booth for her exemplary leadership over the last two years as Chair. She has been a source of great strength and wisdom as the AIC negotiated the unprecedented challenges of coronavirus and the UK’s departure from the European Union to name just two.

“As our industry faces an increasingly turbulent and complex landscape, the AIC is steadfast in its mission to provide members with dependable insight and represent their interests in discussions with Government, NGOs, and other stakeholders.”

ENDS

About AIC

As the UK agricultural supply industry's leading trade association, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) represents businesses in key sectors within the supply chains that feed the nation.

Its Member businesses supply UK farmers and growers with the animal feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products, trusted advice and quality services that are essential to producing food, as well as trading crops and commodities across the globe.

Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, today AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade and represents £17.8 billion* turnover at farmgate.

AIC works on behalf of its Members by lobbying policymakers and stakeholders, delivering information, providing trade assurance schemes, and offering technical support.

AIC Services manages a range of services, including Trade Assurance Schemes and professional registers recognised by the UK Government as essential means to underpin feed and food safety alongside fertiliser security.

These schemes and professional registers include:

www.agindustries.org.uk

^{*According to a 2023 survey of AIC Members.}

Press Contact

Oli Hill, Head of Communications, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]

Author

Oli Hill

Head of Communications, AIC

As Head of Communications, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media. A qualified multimedia journalist, he previously spent six years working at Farmers Weekly magazine as a Senior Reporter on the arable team, and latterly as Community Editor. More recently he was Communications Manager at Red Tractor.

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