Sciantec has appointed Dr Sophie Prentice as its new Technical Sales Manager to strengthen its commercial team. She will be responsible for helping customers maintain compliance and meet their goals by developing novel services, running new innovations, and nurturing key accounts, all through an expert technical perspective.
‘Customers are increasingly looking for technical support and deeper insight into results alongside their analysis,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Commercial Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘Sophie’s background in animal nutrition and technical innovation strengthens the expertise of our commercial team, enabling us to deepen our relationships with our customers in the animal feed and health industries and provide a broader, more valuable service.’
Sophie has extensive technical expertise in animal nutrition, health and productivity across the feed sector. With a PhD in poultry nutrition and health, she is a strong monogastric professional and managed a diverse portfolio of feed additives at Trouw Nutrition. Sophie has spent the last few years at AB Agri, where she developed and embedded best practice project management techniques in the animal feed and agri-food sectors as Innovation Programme Manager.
‘Joining Sciantec and taking the next step in my career in animal nutrition and welfare is very exciting,’ said Sophie. ‘My career has been about improving animal health and welfare without sacrificing sustainability by developing and managing a variety of products and projects, and Sciantec is the perfect place to further progress my goals. I am really looking forward to working with the rest of the team to support customers all over the country.’
NRM has appointed Sophie Cath as its new Senior Business Development Manager on Monday 20th November 2023 to strengthen its commercial team. She will be responsible for growing the business unit by developing new services, identifying new opportunities, and forming and nurturing relationships with customers.
‘Over the last few years, NRM and Cawood Agriculture have grown exponentially,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Commercial Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘We have also focussed on developing actionable insights to provide even more valuable data for our customers, which helps farmers increase yields, improve soil health, sequester carbon, and drive profit whilst supporting sustainable food production. Sophie’s appointment will help us refine these insights and promote their benefits to both new and current customers. Both Cawood and our parent company, Ensign-Bickford Industries, are looking forward to Sophie joining the team to help customers achieve their objectives.’
Sophie has spent her career in the agricultural sector. With a BSc in Agriculture from Aberystwyth University, she has held commercial roles at Frontier Agriculture and Eurofins Agro Testing UK. Sophie’s expertise in farm trading, agricultural sales, building relationships, being a key representative at trade shows, and account management will provide NRM’s customers with the proactive support required to help them make decisions and meet their goals.
‘I am really looking forward to joining NRM and taking the next step in my career in agriculture,’ said Sophie. ‘Helping farmers optimise crop production and improve profitability is so important, not just for the farmers themselves, but to help support effective and sustainable food production throughout the UK. I am excited to be a part of the team and to help provide insightful solutions for farmers all over the country.’
Sajjad Awan, Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist at NRM, advised farmers and experts at Omya’s Soil Health Conference on the importance of understanding soil pH. By shedding light on the impact of soil pH on fertilisation efficiency, as well as its role in soil health, Sajjad provided key insight into how to optimise crop production using laboratory analysis.
‘With unpredictable weather conditions and ambitious sustainability initiatives, growers and advisers are facing greater challenges than ever before,’ said Sajjad. ‘By measuring the practical effects of your efforts, growers can understand the impact of their management practices to see what went well and what needs to be rethought. As the single most informative measurement made to determine soil characteristics, pH is one of the best metrics. pH, determined by soil analysis, provides a clear view of nutrient availability, allowing growers to take corrective actions such as liming. This ultimately helps to improve future productivity and profitability. A neutral pH is also better for the environment, improving soil structure and protecting against erosion and nutrient leaching.’
Sajjad spoke at the conference, which was organised by Omya Environmental Solutions and leading Romanian agricultural distributor NATUREVO, on Thursday 7th September in Oxford. Experts and farmers alike were brought together to explore the crucial topic of soil health, including the importance of calcium, nutrient availability, the significance of sustainable farming practices, and more.
‘The conference was a fantastic opportunity for growers to engage directly with experts to help improve their management practices,’ continued Sajjad. ‘This exchange of knowledge and experience is incredibly important. Learning how to adopt more environmental and economical practices helps to support sustainable food production as well as bolster the success of farming businesses throughout the UK, so it’s a win-win situation. I was glad to provide expertise on such an important topic and to meet farmers and other experts to hear different perspectives and opinions.’
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