Jack Smith Chairs Session on Industry Innovation at CUPGRA Conference
Our Technical Director, Jack Smith, recently chaired a key session at the annual CUPGRA conference, the potato industry’s leading forum for research and collaboration.
Jack’s session, “What works? Implementing change in the potato industry,” brought together industry experts to explore how innovation takes root in practice. He was joined by a lecturer from Harper Adams University and a Scottish grower, who shared their real-world experiences of driving change on farm.
The discussion culminated in a panel featuring Max MacGillivray of Beanstalk Global and Will Shakeshaft of Greens of Soham, both contributors to CUPGRA’s recent video series showcasing the UK potato sector. Together, the panel identified collaboration, knowledge sharing and a positive mindset as essential ingredients for successfully reviewing and adopting new approaches.
“The conference serves as an excellent industry focal point to highlight the latest research and create valuable networking opportunities,” says Jack. “It’s where practical experience meets academic insight, and where we can all learn from each other’s successes and challenges.”
