Jack Ward

Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association

Calm, cautious, and with a head for running a business, Jack Ward is determined to break down barriers for growers as the new boss of the British Growers Association (BGA).

“We probably reflect the extreme end of horticulture,” he says. “Scale of influence is where I’m interested in going. I’m not particularly interested in building a massive empire. There’s an opportunity to expand, but what we aim to be is experts in the area in which we’re operating.”

Established just over two years ago, the BGA has four main roles: it provides administrative and finance services, represents 13 crop associations, offers a market intelligence data service and represents the horticulture sector on key issues.

Ward, who has been at the helm for around 12 weeks, says his priority is to develop the representational side. “We’re not the NFU, we can’t do the same heavy lifting,” he says. “But we can do things that the NFU can’t, we have very close links with specialist producers, like rhubarb and asparagus. And through those connections we’re actually very well informed about what the issues are in these very specialist but very important areas. And that’s probably a point of difference between us and the NFU, although we do work very closely with them.”

The product of two agricultural colleges and one agricultural university, Ward found his way into the industry through a post at NFU Mutual. After selling insurance for two years he shifted across to the NFU and worked in regional offices across Kent, the South East, London and Peterborough.

Setting off at 5.30am for a commute from Peterborough to the BGA offices in Lincolnshire’s Louth is not for the fainthearted, but Ward is apparently not someone who lacks energy. He is a self-described “keen oarsman” and chair of the local rowing club: a normal week includes two river sessions at the weekend, two in the week after arriving home at 7pm, and one night in the gym.

After a stint as chief executive of the City & Guilds NPTC awarding body, responsible for pesticide, chain saw and other land-based qualifications, Ward took up the role at BGA. An ex-NFU man, he has a clear idea of what sets fresh produce apart from other agricultural sectors. “Fresh produce is not beset by trying to comply with Brussels regulations and servicing the subsidiary system,” he says. “They are much more focused on the business opportunities, and the barriers to those opportunities.”

Business is coincidentally where Ward is strongest, and although he skims over issues such as R&D, organics or new markets, running an effective organisation is definitely top of the agenda. And as he points out, the BGA already has the essential industry links, expertise, and data analysis tools: what’s needed now is a co-ordinated approach to give the association a bigger voice – and that’s what Ward plans to provide.

“The total value of a field of veg would far outweigh the value of a field of wheat,” he continues. “And so any subsidy amount is a much smaller percentage. If you’re growing wheat the subsidy is an important part of that income. If you’re growing vegetables, who you’re going to sell to and at what price is the be all and end all.

“So obviously the supply chain is a big issue, labour is a big issue, technology is a big issue. All those traditional elements of running a business are much higher up the agenda, because subsidy payments don’t get in the way,” he says. “Fresh produce is a much more business-focused operation. It makes it easier to see where people are going.”

He also believes that producers are nervous of growing more fruit or vegetables because there is less risk in other sectors. “I think people lack confidence because the supply chain is very uncertain, and the issue of the discounters is putting pressure on price of produce,” he says.

One way the fresh produce sector can deal with risk in the supply chain is consolidation into producer organisations, an area that Ward says the BGA will look to “gently develop”. “Producer organisations have quite a lot of potential as they are able to draw down EU grants. So from that point of view they are quite an interesting proposition,” he says.

Following in the footsteps of Europe’s powerful producer organisations, Ward says there is an opportunity to grow the concept in the UK. “As a horticultural producer, risk is quite important. The producer organisation is one way of de-risking some of that activity,” he adds.

BGA funding currently comes from delivery of services to around 70 clients, and Ward says he is also looking at the association’s membership structure, which he believes is “cumbersome” in its current format. He is keen to refocus all areas of the organisation, including R&D, which he says should ensure that technological developments are coming through as well as science-based ones.

“GM technology has a lot to offer. I was quite heavily involved in the Monsanto trials in 1999, around Peterborough. And what was unfortunate was there was more negative information than positive. There are some production issues that could be addressed by more efficient technology, and GM is one of those technologies.

“Having got the technology it’s a pity we can’t utilise it to address the amount of chemicals we use, or creating things that are more efficient.”

Despite coming out in favour of GM himself, Ward says he “wouldn’t know” what the majority of growers feel, and suggests there are other more short-term issues that are currently higher up the agenda.

Ward says his mission is to remove some of the bureaucratic barriers faced by growers and unlock potential in the industry, using the BGA’s existing expertise and network of industry contacts. He believes what’s needed is a unified approach to achieve future growth: “I think what the industry doesn’t want is organisations that are divided, but organisations that can work together.”