New arable technical manager to underpin RAGT’s variety knowledge transfer

Andrew will manage relationships with consumers and their respective official bodies, and represent RAGT’s interests with official governing bodies and agencies.

RAGT has a multi-crop portfolio and a leading position in cereal varieties and protein crops in the European market. Varietal innovation with a focus on key traits is a core aim to support and develop sustainability in agriculture.

Andrew has almost 30 years of technical experience across the arable sector, working in plant breeding, agronomy, trials and farm management.

“Ultimately this position within RAGT wasn’t to be missed,” he said. “The company is one of the biggest plant breeders in the country, with a proven record of launching highly successful breakthrough varieties across a wide range of species.

“Standout examples include Skyfall, a pioneering high-yielding milling wheat that remains the most widely grown Group 1 variety in the UK a decade after its launch, and RGT Planet spring barley, which is believed to be most widely grown cereal variety in the world.

“More recently we’ve developed Europe’s first and only commercial BYDV-resistant wheats and relaunched our oilseed rape programme to deliver a range of robust, high yielding material.

“People have access to public information on our varieties, but at RAGT we aim to help our customers get the very best from them by providing a solid framework of technical information.

“This will enable growers to fine-tune management, help merchants to successfully place varieties and provide millers and maltsters with the information they need well ahead of commercial launch.

“We have some very exciting new varieties and traits combinations in the pipeline. It’s a great time to be joining RAGT and I’m very much looking forward to working with the internal team and our customers and growers at a time when so much is changing in the sector.”

RAGT Seeds UK managing director Lee Bennett said: “Andrew has built up an impressive record in the arable sector and has a wide range of experience, which will serve him and us very well.

“He is well respected in the industry and very knowledgeable. I’ve no doubt he will be a real asset in building relationships across our customer base and underpinning our position in the market.”