A new voluntary organisation aims to offer a fresh viewpoint on the UK agri-food industry for women in the trade.
The Food and Education Rural e-Network (FeRN) was officially launched last week, primarily as a women’s e-organisation, to facilitate communication and debate between members across the UK and Europe.
FeRN chairman Sue Archer said: “We want to be a focal point for all women of all ages working at all levels of the food, farming and rural sectors - from chief executive to farm secretary, scientist to supermarket buyer, consultant to farmer - to be able to meet, network, discuss and debate the industry they are part of.”
The organisation was provisionally set up towards the end of 2009 and already has a strong core of members just by word-of-mouth. FeRN’s aim is for members to set up local and regional networks across the UK. The national office will act as a hub enabling members to contribute up-to-date opinion, news and information online and by email.
Archer believes FeRN members have opinions and knowledge that will offer a fresh and alternative view to the industry’s usual commentators and stakeholders. She added: “We consulted with a cross-section of sector stakeholders and the over-riding message was that they would welcome a female perspective to issues within the industry that they felt was currently missing. We will encourage members to report, comment and lobby on local and national issues under the FeRN banner.
“We’re looking for new faces with skills and opinions to contribute to the new and emerging organisation. The focus is on the knowledge and experience of our grass-root members and we will strongly encourage membership involvement on the direction of organisation. FeRN will be run by members for members.”
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