Graham Ward will be the new voice and face of UK horticulture, leading the National Farmers' Union horticulture board of nine in the crusade to keep the industry at the cutting edge of developments.

The election of Ward was at the top of the agenda at last week's first meeting of the board at NFU headquarters.

Ward, general manager of Snaith Salad Growers in Yorkshire, said: 'We are all keen to get on with the job and that means not only taking on the challenges, but realising the opportunities that exist for the sector.

'The diversity and dynamic nature of our industry will make this an exciting and varied new role for me. I intend making every meeting and every initiative count.' Talks at the first meeting included driving out duplication and how the board will interact with other grower organisations. Also discussed were Defra's draft science and innovation strategy for horticulture and the implications of mid-term review proposals for the sector.

NFU chief horticulture adviser David Brown added: 'We have had an extremely good first meeting. I am especially pleased by the enormous level of enthusiasm from each and every board member and their clear determination to set a strategic vision that will allow UK horticulture to move forward and build on its successes.'

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