Renowned pig industry veteran, Hugh Crabtree, wins the 2023 David Black Award

The award was presented by last year’s winner, Dr Zoe Leach OBE, National Farmers Union (NFU) East Regional Director, at the National Pig Awards in London on 20 November.

The David Black Award is given to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding impact on the British pig sector through their work.

Mike Sheldon, Chair of AHDB’s Pork Sector Council, said:

“Hugh Crabtree's contribution to the British pig industry is worthy of this year's David Black Award. The award honours his lifelong dedication, pioneering spirit, and outstanding contributions to the British pig sector. His commitment to improving the industry's welfare and production standards has left an indelible mark, and this recognition is a testament to his profound impact.

“Hugh has truly transformed the pig industry through his pioneering work at Farmex Ltd., voluntary engagements, and advocacy. His ability to make even the most mundane topics captivating has been a game-changer. His passion for the cause and exceptional communication skills have empowered pig producers and driven positive change. It is great to proudly acknowledge Hugh Crabtree's unparalleled contributions to the industry.”

Accepting the award, Hugh said:

“It is a very great honour for me to receive the David Black Award in my forty-fourth year in the industry. My business had an association with the Black family right from the very start of our trading in 1979 and I have been aware of the award and its extremely eminent recipients throughout my career. I am very humbled indeed to now find myself numbered among them.

"In recent years, once again, the pig industry has had some hugely challenging times. But it is a measure of the people involved – with all their resilience, commitment and professionalism – that the sector will continue to provide safe, nutritious and healthy food while remaining passionate about the welfare of the pigs in its care. I am delighted, if slightly embarrassed, by the recognition of my peers and sincerely thank all those responsible for my nomination.”

Hugh has dedicated his career to improving the welfare and economic production of the industry. He co-founded Farmex Ltd. – a market leader in ventilation systems for pig production in the UK – in 1980.

Under his leadership, Farmex pioneered the “Barn Report” system – a real-time control and monitoring system that enables pig producers to remotely check vital functions, such as temperature, ventilation, water and feed flow, in controlled environment houses. The system has saved producers thousands of pounds and it delivers significant welfare improvements.

Hugh has won the New Equipment Award at the British Pig & Poultry Fair three times, and his work is at the forefront of real-time production monitoring in the UK and the USA. He has led three UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded collaborative R&D projects and is active in the field of precision livestock farming and the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture.

Hugh's communication skills have been instrumental in highlighting the importance of proper environment control to improve both welfare and economic production. He has led industry campaigns such as “Winnie the Pig” and the iconic song “Stand by Your Ham”. Hugh has also encouraged young people to join the industry by founding the Nick Bird Award at Harper Adams University and he chairs the Pig Industry Scholarship Programme (PISP) group.

Hugh also played a commendable role in developing the hugely reputable Building Suppliers Forum, which has been key in collating information on important evolving topics such as adaptive farrowing for producers and policy makers alike.

Hugh is an Institute of Agricultural Engineers fellow and has held several industry positions, including chairman of the British Pig Association, Allied Industries Group, director of the National Pig Association and vice-chairman of the National Pig Association. In 2019, he was awarded a Lifetime Fellowship of the National Pig Association (NPA). Hugh’s remarkable journey continues with his appointment to the AHDB Pork sector council and his latest achievement, the Institute of Agricultural Engineers Award of Merit in 2023.