PR agency joins industry body partnership programme, set to unveil new industry report at conference on 17-18 November
UK horticulture industry body the British Growers Association (BGA) has joined forces with specialist marketing agency JCM&Co, with a new industry report set to outline the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Established in 2003, JCM&Co specialise in strategy communications, public relationships, editorial, research-led content, events, podcasts, video production and stakeholder engagement across agriculture, food and the rural economy.
The agency’s client roster includes BAHF Agricultural Solutions, GB Potatoes and the Oxford Farming Conference.
The collaboration is part of British Growers’ new partnership programme launched this July which aims to strengthen industry connections by bringing together organisations committed to supporting UK growers.
Organisations from legal, agri-tech, finance and food redistributino sectors have joined the scheme, which is designed to offer year-round active engagement across the sector.
Jane Craigie, managing director of JCM&Co, praised the partnership programme: “British horticulture has so much to be proud of, producing exceptional food, supporting rural economies and demonstrating extraordinary innovation and resilience,” she said.
“But growers are also navigating some profound challenges, from rising production costs and workforce pressures to climate volatility and increasingly complex supply chain demands.”
Craigie added that the partnership is hoped to make a “meaningful contribution from the outset” and to understand where British produce stands today and what changes are needed.
New report
The first of the agency’s contributions will be a new report exploring growing confidence, business resilience, innovation and the future direction of British fresh produce production.
The report, titled Yields & Fields: Trends and Opportunities in British Produce, will be produced alongside independent research specialists Grounded Research and available to BGA members at the association’s AGM and conference held on 17-18 November.
It will examine the pressure facing the sector via a survey of British growers and interviews involving influential voices from across horticulture, food supply chains and the wider industry, as well as opportunities for a more resilient, competitive and sustainable sector.
Key voices
The survey will examine growers’ business outlook, limitations, access to labour and skills, technology adaptation, supply chain relationships and policy priorities that could help unlock future growth.
It will also feature contributions from member nominated director of the Co-op group, Christine Tacon CBE, on industry relationships and the future of British produce, food charity Felix on exploring waste and redistribution.
The former chair of the Red Fresh Produce Board and consultant Veryan Bliss will also contribute her expertise on evolving supply chain relationships.
Grower Marion Regan will also share perspectives on berry and salad production, while Sapphira Waterson from MDS will discuss the next generation of those entering the horticulture sector.
”Building a clearer picture”
Craigie said: “Our ambition is to produce something genuinely useful: research that sparks conversations, challenges assumptions and provides evidence to help businesses, industry organisations and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of British horticulture.”
John Walgate, CEO of the BGA, said the association was delighted to welcome the agency’s valuable expertise to the partnership programme.
“Yields & Fields is exactly the kind of initiative we want to encourage through these partnerships. By listening directly to growers and bringing together perspectives from across the supply chain, we can build a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.”
“The findings will provide valuable insight for our members and help inform wider discussions about the investment, innovation and policy support needed to ensure British horticulture can flourish,” Walgate added.
