New Chairman for LEAF Scotland

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) appoints a new chairman for its Scottish office.

Dr Dave Roberts, Head of SACs (Scottish Agricultural College) Dairy Research Centre at Crichton, Dumfries and President of the British Grassland Society, has recently taken over the role from former Scottish Office Chairman, Edward Baxter.  Dave Roberts has been involved with LEAF for many years, representing SAC as an Innovation Centre and, more recently, as a Trustee.

LEAF Chief Executive, Caroline Drummond said:

We are delighted that Dave will be taking on this role.  Edward Baxter, who has been Scottish LEAF Chairman since 2001, leaves an amazing legacy.  He as worked incredibly hard to raise the profile of LEAF in Scotland as well as help us engage constructively with Scottish Government, leading academics and representatives from the farming, conservation and business communities.   Daves experience in the livestock sector is particularly timely as LEAF looks to build on its technical activities in this area through the establishment of our Sustainable Innovation Network.

Dave Roberts added:

“LEAF has achieved much in Scotland with a growing number of  Demonstration Farms and Innovation Centres, as well as a significant number of farmers completing the LEAF Audit, taking part in Open Farm Sunday and becoming LEAF Marque accredited.  However, there is still some way to go.  As Chairman of LEAF Scotland, I look forward to building on these successes and helping to raise the profile of LEAF even further so that Scottish farmers can realise the many benefits of being involved with LEAF.”

1.         LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) promotes environmentally responsible farming.  We support farmers to produce good food, with care and to high environmental standards, identified in-store by the LEAF Marque logo.  We build public understanding and trust of food and farming in a number of ways, including Open Farm Sunday and visits to our national network of Demonstration Farms

2.         Edward Baxter who farms Gilston Mains, a predominately arable farm at Leven in Fife will remain as one of LEAFs Demonstration Farms.

3.         LEAF has 49 Demonstration Farms across England and Scotland.  A variety of different groups visit LEAF Demonstration Farms including farmers, MPs, MEPs, government groups, farming, wildlife and conservation groups (including Young Farmers, Wildlife Trusts, RSPB groups) WI groups, schools, teachers and other educational bodies

4.         For more information on all LEAFs work and activities, visit www.leafuk.org