John Twyford has been awarded the esteemed Brian Chambers Trophy as the highest-rated FACTS candidate of the year.
The BASIS award, sponsored by Hutchinsons recognises outstanding achievement and dedication in the field of crop nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
John, who is based in Berkshire, comes from a farming family and works as a consultant at The Dairy Group, where he has shown an exceptional commitment to advancing nutrient management practices. Reflecting on his journey through the FACTS (Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme) qualification, John emphasised the importance of precise nutrient management for both environmental protection and food production.
“I think that getting nutrient management right is critical for both environmental protection and food production,” said John. “On both conventional and organic farms, there are instances of both under- and over-application of nutrients. The FACTS course, led by Jim Lewis at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), put me on the learner’s pathway in this complex field.”
John highlighted the urgent need for a low-input approach combined with dietary change to address the global sustainability challenges posed by modern agriculture. “Efficient use of nutrients, whether organic or inorganic, is vital to sustaining food production while minimising environmental leakage. I am grateful to have deepened my understanding of these complex issues through the FACTS training.”
Tim Kerr, Crop Nutrition manager at Hutchinsons, said: ‘’We would like to congratulate this year’s award winner, as well as the other professional advisers who have successfully completed their FACTS certification. 34 years after its inception, FACTS has never been more important in supporting best practice.’’
John was joined by three other exceptional candidates who were recognised as runners-up for their outstanding performance:
Dominic Swan – Technical Manager at Catalyst Farming
Philip Norden – Consultant at Ceres Rural
James Coumbe – Adviser at The West Country Rivers Trust
BASIS CEO Corrina Urquhart praised John’s achievement, stating: “I’d like to congratulate John on winning the Brian Chambers Trophy. To be recognised as the highest-rated FACTS candidate of the year is a remarkable accomplishment and reflects his dedication to advancing knowledge and delivering the highest standards of advice to the agricultural sector.”
