Jim Uprichard

Technical Sales Manager Ireland, Trouw Nutrition

Jim was born and currently lives in Northern Ireland. With an Agri degree from Queens University, he has worked for Trouw for 35 years, mainly as a Ruminant Commercial Nutritionist moving into Sustainability in the last 3 years. He Sit's on various environmental working groups in Northern Ireland focusing on Carbon and on Nitrogen and Phosphorus.Working 3-day's a week so he gets more time for gardening and a round of golf.

George Roach

Third-generation poultry farmer & Director of Oakland Farms

Oakland Farms is a family-run business based in North Yorkshire. The business operates six broiler units, a compound feed mill, renewable energy projects, and a portfolio of let commercial property. George studied Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2017. After gaining experience in the rural property sector, he returned to the family business where he is now involved in both the strategic development and day-to-day management of the farms and feed mill operations.

In 2023, George was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, sponsored by The Poultry Meat Group. His study, titled “There is a buzz around insect protein in the broiler industry – does the idea have legs?”, involved travelling across Europe and Africa to investigate the potential for insect protein to be used in broiler feed as a sustainable alternative to imported soya. The research explored different insect species, production systems, and feedstocks, as well as the regulatory, economic, and environmental challenges associated with scaling insect protein production.

Mike Tyers

Technical Advisor

Mike started his career in poultry in 1988 with Daylay Eggs as a trainee manager.  Mike’s career within Daylay, later Deans Foods and then Noble Foods included responsibility for company broiler breeders, free range commercial laying and pullet rearing. The role included responsibility for contract producers. At the time of leaving Noble in 2008 Mike was Regional Manager for the Southern region.

Mike joined Agro Supply (part of the Vencomatic group) in the development, supply, and installation of heat exchangers into the broiler industry. In 2009 Mike joined 7Y Services which became part of Countrywide Farmers. As the poultry specialist within the Agri-service team in Countrywide the majority of the role was taken up in brokering poultry manure as a fertiliser. 

In 2014 Mike returned to the commercial laying sector as Contract Supply manager for Stonegate Farmers . He then took up the role of Technical Advisor to the BEIC in May 2023. Mike is a Nuffield Scholar, a Temperton Fellow and a board member of RUMA and represents the BEIC on various working groups including organics, health and welfare pathways, environment, RSPCA and other NGO and government consultations.