Blog: Creating a robust strategy during this crucial phase in the evolution of agriculture

Paul Unwin joined the Beef & Lamb Board (now sector council) in April 2020. Here he talks about how he is putting his extensive business knowledge into use to help the beef and lamb sector. 

My first two years as a council member have been very interesting and challenging in what have been a few tumultuous years for the nation’s agriculture sector.  It is evident that the agriculture sector is facing unprecedented times and specifically that the AHDB has entered a critical phase in its evolution.

Building a cohesive and robust strategy that can be implemented effectively, that will engage and aid the agricultural community and specifically the Beef and Lamb sector is tough.

The cross-sectoral experience of strategic planning and implementation I bring to the council helps to challenge assumptions posed to strengthen the strategy, with the aim of bringing greater value to the levy payer.  There are some absolutely crucial building blocks that are needed to build a robust, resilient and profitable beef and lamb sector and for me none more so than establishing AHDB’s role and how best it can work in partnership using its unique independent position. 

I joined the council as I was keen to use my experience in developing and implementing strategic plans to aid the transformation of British agriculture.  Although I have worked extensively in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors, I was born on a farm and raised in a farming community and for the last decade returned to farming. 

For 17 years I was the CEO of a highly innovative medical devices company.  Taking a small UK-centric university-owned company to one of the world-leading innovative technologically advanced medtech companies in its field, required meticulous strategic planning and implementation.  Having a radical vision, communicating this and then orchestrating a plan to integrate a series of novel technologies to aid the advancement of patient care was a complex, multiple-year programme of work.

Subsequently, I chaired the government-backed steering group for additive manufacturing across all manufacturing sectors and this has broadened my understanding of how the awareness, knowledge transfer, adoption and integration of complex technologies impacts businesses from micros through to global companies in industries ranging widely from aerospace through automotive to healthcare and food processing.  I chaired the team that launched the national strategy framework that continues to aid the adoption and implementation of advancing manufacturing focused upon increased productivity. Working from top-down interacting with government bodies and grassroots upwards has widened my perspective of the complex interactions.  Engaging with those at grassroots level is a difficult conundrum but crucial to bring about changes that will aid productivity and competitiveness. 

There are many challenges and I am excited about being a part of the improvements that brings about maintaining and enhancing our excellent animal health and welfare, how we as the broad stakeholder community tackle antibiotic usage, shine a light on what works in farm diversification and how we signpost the adoption of innovative technologies that collectively will lead to a highly reputable, competitive and productive beef and lamb sector.