About the farming team

Get in touch

The Farming and Land Use team has specialist knowledge of all UK agricultural sectors, as well as in depth understanding of organic and agroecological food production systems.

The team works to:

improve organic practice, support our licensees
share knowledge of agroecological production and
increase the proportion of food which is produced from organic and agroecological systems

You can call our helpline on 0117 314 5100 or contact us. You can also download this pdf, introducing our advisor team.

If you require a derogation you should contact your Certification Officer.

The contact number for producers is 0117 914 2412 and for processors 0117 914 2411.

Cross section of carrots growing beneath the surface.

Meet the Organic Producer Board

Meet the elected organic producers who represent the sector and shape our priorities.

Adrian Steele

Organic Sector Development Advisor

Adrian has long been involved in the organic sector as a farmer and has helped develop marketing initiatives in livestock, seeds and cereals. His Worcestershire farm includes vegetable production and dairy heifers, working with local landowners through share‑farming and rental agreements. He has collaborated with processors and marketers for over 25 years. Adrian is also a qualified solicitor and a former Soil Association Trustee.

Alison Bond

Research Officer (Farming and Land Use)

Alison rejoined the Soil Association to work on the animal‑welfare strand of the Ocado 'Farm to Fork' partnership. She helps develop and apply evidence‑based frameworks to assess and communicate positive welfare, focusing on animals’ freedoms, opportunities and natural behaviours. Alison previously worked on AssureWel, integrating welfare outcome assessment into certification. She holds a PhD from Bristol University on assessing pig welfare on farms and at abattoirs.

Ana Allamand

Knowledge Exchange Manager, Scotland

Ana works with farmers across Scotland to support regenerative and low‑input approaches that strengthen environmental and financial resilience. She runs knowledge‑exchange events and farmer‑led groups, and helps develop tools to measure impact and guide future work. Before joining the Soil Association, Ana worked in Chile coordinating cherry and walnut production and later supporting investor–grower relationships.

Astrid Barrowman

Producer Outreach Programme and Membership Manager

Astrid manages producer membership and outreach, providing technical advice and running events from farm walks and seminars to national conferences like the Soil Symposium. She also coordinates the Duchy Future Farming field labs. Astrid grew up on her family’s dairy and horticultural farm in south Ireland and gained early experience in both production and markets. She holds an MA in Food, Nutrition and Welfare Studies and joined Soil Association after graduating.

Ben Raskin

Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry

Ben supports members with horticulture and agroforestry, including technical, marketing, supply‑chain and networking needs. He has 30+ years’ experience and joined the Soil Association in 2006. He has worked in CSA, woodchip and new farm start‑ups. His past roles include running gardens, leading production at Daylesford, managing agroforestry projects and writing gardening books.

Carolyn Coxe

Horticultural Advisor

Carolyn brings extensive experience in growing produce for retail and wholesale markets, along with estate management in a mixed organic farming business and delivering agri‑environment schemes. She holds a BSc in Environmental Management and is BASIS/FACTS qualified. Carolyn is passionate about improving the farmed environment and producing sustainable food. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking with home‑grown and foraged ingredients and walking her dogs.

Clive Thomas

Senior Adviser, Regenerative Forestry

Clive Thomas is the Soil Association’s senior forestry adviser, leading work on regenerative forestry, tree integration in farming and policy around carbon and natural capital markets. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, he has over 30 years’ experience in private and state forestry. Clive is also an experienced trainer, delivering courses in agroforestry, FSC® standards and responsible forest management in the UK and internationally.

Colleen McCulloch

Senior Farming Programmes Manager in Scotland

Colleen McCulloch has spent the last 10 years building, supporting and mobilising farmer‑led innovation groups and networks across Scotland and the UK. Colleen has a mixed background in organic farming, research and ecology, and combines these to support the transition towards more organic and agroecological food production.

Dan Isles

Innovative Farmers Marketing Manager

Dan shares stories and results from Innovative Farmers field labs, managing the website, social media and newsletters to make findings accessible. He previously worked for two years on organic market gardens in British Columbia and spent five years as a food‑sovereignty campaigner, helping organise the national gathering. Dan is passionate about agroecological farming and hopes to start a small‑scale farm one day.

Hannah Carr

Programmes Communications Officer

Hannah joined the Soil Association in early 2025 as a Programmes Communications Officer, working across food and farming with a focus on AI4SoilHealth. This project speeds up the use of soil health data through AI to support the EU Soil Observatory and the Soil Deal for Europe. She brings over a decade of marketing and communications experience across charities, the private sector and the NHS. Hannah has an MA in History and a PGDip in Magazine Journalism.

Hugh Blogg

Horticultural Advisor

Hugh supports horticultural work at the Soil Association, focusing on small‑scale systems, supply chains and innovation. He has held roles in press, certification and grower‑focused research and advice. Hugh previously ran Fungusloci, an urban mushroom microfarm. He now leads potato supply‑chain work and supports small‑scale growers, organic vineyards and the Fruit and Vegetable Alliance. Outside work, he is also a freelance musician and teacher.

Jane Dingwall

Farming Communications and Project Officer, Soil Association Scotland

Jane is Senior Communications Officer with the Farming and Land Use team, which offer advice, support and signposting to any Scottish farmer, grower or crofter who wants to farm in a more sustainable way. Her role involves communications on agroecological farming and crofting via social media, newsletters and the website. Jane joined Soil Association Scotland in 2011.

Jerry Alford

Arable and Soils Advisor

Jerry has 25 years’ experience running his family’s organic mixed farm in Devon, moving it from dairy to beef, sheep and arable. He also developed holiday cottages, chaired a farmer‑owned grain store and worked in the national grain supply chain. He takes a whole‑farm systems approach and is interested in reducing cultivations and supporting agroecology in all farm types.

Jon Haines

Agroforestry Advisor

Jon is an Agroforestry Advisor in the Farming and Land Use team, supporting members with technical, marketing, supply‑chain and networking queries. He brings experience from both arboriculture and agriculture, including global work with herb, spice and tea farmers and helping set up a community aquaculture project in Pembrokeshire. Jon is passionate about helping farmers make the most of trees in their systems. He enjoys nature, growing vegetables and rugby.

Josiah Judson

Senior Farming Advisor

Josiah joined the Farming and Land Use team in June 2025 and leads two EU Soil Health Mission programmes: NBSoil and AI4SoilHealth. He also supports agroecology work across the UK and Europe. Trained as a soil scientist at Leeds, he is completing a PhD on agroforestry and soil health, with a focus on systems thinking. He has experience in sustainability, nature‑based solutions, soil analysis, policy, flood modelling and international development.

Karen Fisher

Farming Adviser (Farmed Environment)

Karen has extensive experience giving environmental, agronomic and policy advice across farming. She holds agriculture degrees from Aberystwyth and Harper Adams, several BASIS qualifications, and an MSc in Food Security, where she researched barriers to agroecological farming in the UK. Karen lives in the Welsh Marches and enjoys walking in the local hills with her dog.

Kate Still

Head of Farming Programmes

Kate has been with the Soil Association since 2010, leading farmer advice on livestock health and welfare and now managing producer‑focused farming programmes. She works with farmers, inspectors, vets and advisors, and specialises in welfare outcome assessment in assurance schemes. Her background includes practical farming, farm business consultancy and advising on wild plant and habitat conservation.

Katrin Hochberg

Director of Farming and Land Use

Katrin leads the farming and land use team, overseeing the Soil Association’s programmes in this area. She rejoined in 2022 after seven years developing support and training for organic farmers. She has worked in organic meat marketing, local food consulting, and ran an international organic beauty standards charity. Katrin grew up on a smallholding, has wide farm experience across Europe, and holds a BSc in sustainable land use.

Katy Jo Stanton

Senior Farming Advisor (Soil Health)

Katy Jo leads two EU Soil Health Mission programmes: NBSoil and AI4SoilHealth, and supports wider agroecology work including Soil Association Exchange. She advises farmers, growers, policy makers and government on soil and agroecological practices and coordinates field labs for Innovative Farmers. Previously, she worked in global design and communications before completing an MSc in Land and Ecological Restoration and researching soil health at the Eden Project.

Laura Gude

Innovative Farmers Network Coordinator

Laura is the Innovative Farmers Network Coordinator, working with farmers, scientists, advisors and industry partners to launch and support on‑farm trials and share learning. She first trained as a land agent and later worked as a farming advisor in Devon on projects including pollution reduction and energy use. Laura has an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development and lives in South Devon, where she is restoring a small woodland to native species.

Lucy Gatward

Senior Farming Communications Officer

Lucy shares the work of the Producer Support team with farmers and growers interested in regenerative farming, using social media, newsletters and the website. She is also food‑sector lead for Bristol Going for Gold and a trustee of Bristol Fair Trade Network. Previously, she was marketing manager at Better Food and has over 15 years’ experience in organic food and supply chains.

Madeleine Silberberg

Project Co-Ordinator

Maddy coordinates two EU Soil Health Mission programmes: NBSoil and AI4SoilHealth, and supports events within the Farming and Land Use team. She has an interdisciplinary background, starting as a mechanical engineer in the vertical‑farming sector before completing an MSc in Global Environmental Challenges, focusing on the political ecology of urban agriculture. She also did a Research and Development Fellowship at Defra, providing scientific evidence for Environmental Land Management schemes.

Rachael Gerrie

Project Data Officer

Rachael joined the team in 2024. She is responsible for the compilation, management and reporting of organic seed and market price data. She makes sure this information is up‑to‑date and available for use. Before this, she specialised in the monitoring and evaluation of conservation projects around the world. She is passionate about using data to drive decision‑making and creating visually compelling data stories.

Samantha Swarbrick

Administrator, Farming and Land Use Team

Sam is the Farming and Land Use Team Administrator. She arranges meetings, provides events assistance, and helps with project administration. She also assists the Project Manager in providing the secretariat for the Organic Producer Board.

Simone Osbourn

Operations Manager, Farming and Land Use Team

Simone is responsible for supporting the Farm and Land Use team and managing a number of its projects. She has a background in project management, account management and event management. She is also an active member of local Community Supported Agriculture project, Sims Hill Shared Harvest.

Tabitha Acton

Farming Advisor

Tabitha joined Soil Association after roles with the NFU as Northumberland County Adviser and with AHDB as a Knowledge Exchange Manager for farm economics and beef and lamb. She also farms with her partner on a Northumberland hill farm producing pedigree sheep and cattle. With a BSc in Biomedicine and Nutrition and an MRes in Immunobiology, she focuses on applying research in practical ways to help farming businesses plan for the future.

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