Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP) has formally launched and has announced that five members of staff from AHDB have joined the new organisation. In addition, the transfer of the relevant information and residual levy funds (as a grant) have also been agreed with AHDB in order that HCP can continue the important Extension of Authorisation for Minor Uses (EAMU) and Emergency Authorisation (EA) work as seamlessly as possible for the horticultural sector.
HCP has also announced the appointment of a new part-time CEO, Simon Conway. Simon has most recently been Managing Director at Vitacress Salads and Herbs and has been with the Vitacress business since 2006, in commercial and marketing roles prior to taking up his current position in 2016. Simon is a proven operational leader, with experience of change management, revenue growth, and experience of developing new market segments and products. Speaking about his appointment, Simon said “I am excited to be joining HCP and leading this new organisation at the start of its journey through the vital work it is going to do for the benefit of the UK horticultural sector.”
“Simon has an excellent understanding of the horticulture sector, has led significant changes at Vitacress and has a track record of building strong staff teams through coaching and empowerment. Simon has plenty of experience in delivering a strong sustainability focus in business strategy, net zero and biodiversity planning and is passionate about the future of the EAMU and EA service for UK horticulture,” explained Ali Capper, Chairman of the Board of HCP. “Simon is joining us from mid-June and until then Jack Ward from British Growers Association has offered to continue to steer the direction of HCP,” continued Capper. “The industry is very grateful to Jack for his efforts to make HCP happen and to help ensure it launches successfully”.
The new HCP team
Lindsey Daniel: Lindsey has been in the crop protection team for four years and acts as the team co-ordinator and leads on website communications for growers and agronomists.
Carlos Duarte: Carlos has a degree in plant pathology and a Masters Degree in Engineering, Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering. He has a farming background and is a data management specialist. At HCP he will continue to focus on soft-fruit and tree-fruit crop protection issues.
Grace Emeny: Grace has over 10 years of experience in horticulture scientific research with a zoology undergraduate degree and MRes degree in biology. She has been part of the EAMU team for over a year.
Dr Joanna McTigue: Jo focuses on ornamental crops, protected vining crops and mushrooms. She also specialises in worker exposure risk assessment and manages the crop association risk registers to ensure that the main priorities are recognised for each crop group. Jo champions biopesticides within the team; with a PhD and research background in viral and fungal control of lepidopteran pests, she works to ensure that a greater range of biological products become available to growers. Prior to joining AHDB, she worked in contract research, conducting and managing efficacy field trials, and compiling reports and biological assessment dossiers to support product registrations.
Dr Kim Parker: Kim has over 20 years’ experience of the UK horticulture industry. She has specialised in minor uses pesticide regulation since 2021 with responsibility for field vegetables, leafy salads, and herbs. Kim coordinates emergency authorisation applications and residue studies for the team and leads on seed treatment issues. With a PhD in plant pathology, Kim worked for ADAS from 2000 doing applied research on crop diseases, with a focus on field vegetables and protected edibles, before joining AHDB in 2016 as a research manager and crop protection scientist.