The NFU has appointed a new Head of Food and Farming to lead its food chain and commodity areas.
 
Philip Hambling will join the union in mid-April, at a crucial time for the commodity boards. They face twin challenges; responding to Brexit and establishing food and farming’s sustainable recovery from depressed markets.
 
Mr Hambling has experience from roles in the food industry and at Defra. He is currently Senior Agriculture Manager at Sainsbury’s.
 
Speaking on Wednesday, after his upcoming move was announced, Mr Hambling said, “The NFU has a hugely important and influential role to play in the development of agriculture and food chains at this time of significant challenge and potential opportunity for UK producers.
 
“I particularly look forward to working with the NFU’s commodity boards, offering my experience of working in Government, as well as with policymakers inside and outside commercial value chains, to help us shape and capture the best of those opportunities for UK farmers and growers”.
 
He will replace Phil Bicknell, who left the NFU in December last year to join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.