JOHN Humphreys, arable products manager for the Framlingham-based farmers' business AtlasFram Group, has accepted an invitation to join the Home Grown Cereals Authority's (HGCA) Research & Development Committee, for a three-year term.

JOHN Humphreys, arable products manager for the Framlingham-based farmers' business AtlasFram Group, has accepted an invitation to join the Home Grown Cereals Authority's (HGCA) Research & Development Committee, for a three-year term.

Committee members are chosen for their ability to represent the interests of the cereals and oilseeds sectors, with particular emphasis, in Mr Humphrey's case, on links with agronomists.

He will represent the co-operative sector of the market on the research and development committee, which evaluates and recommends for funding research and development and knowledge transfer proposals relating to production, harvesting, storage and processing.

The committee works to develop a range of programmes, funded through the cereals and oilseeds levies, which are aimed at improving and enhancing the sustainability of the UK cereals and oilseeds industries.

Mr Humphreys held several key arable positions before joining AtlasFram Group in April 2008.

“It is a great honour to have been asked to join t his prestigious committee and continue to develop the type of projects and knowledge transfer programmes instigated by, for example, the late Alan Bide, who founded Hampshire Arable Systems in 1978,” he said.

“This is also an excellent opportunity to represent the type of farmers who make up a large percentage of our membership and, equally, to increase awareness of the HGCA's valuable work to farmers and agronomists.”