Grow Yorkshire appoints new chair

Grow Yorkshire has appointed Jan Thornton MBE as chair to lead the region’s farming advisory panel as it looks to support farm incomes across York and North Yorkshire.

Jan, who was recognised with an MBE for services to rural communities, takes on the role following the re-establishment of Grow Yorkshire as the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s expert advisory group for the farming sector. 

She first joined the panel shortly after its formation in 2019.

Since then, Grow Yorkshire has supported more than 100 environmental audits and assessments on farms and developed specialist interest groups and training programmes for the sector.

As chair, Jan will guide the panel’s work at a critical time for the region’s farming community, with a renewed focus on improving profitability, supporting sustainable farming practices and removing barriers to training, wellbeing and long-term resilience.

She said: “I am delighted to have been appointed by mayor David Skaith as the new chair of Grow Yorkshire.

“This is an exciting opportunity to bring together lots of stakeholders who are really embedded in farming.

“By working together, we can develop the best policies and actions to support farmers and the wider rural community.”

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, added: “Our farmers are the backbone of our region, but with more than half of farms currently making unsustainable profits, we cannot afford to stand still. 

“Giving Grow Yorkshire a strengthened role and appointing a chair with a strong track record, we are putting power in the hands of those who know farming and our rural communities best.

“Jan has been a great advocate for farming, the food sector, and rural communities across Yorkshire, her contribution to Grow Yorkshire has been invaluable, and I’m really pleased that she is supporting us on this journey.”

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