Tom Clarke

Tom is a fourth generation fenland farmer. He has a degree in Economics and an MBA, and took over the family farm unexpectedly in 2009 after a career in business consulting with Deloitte and Accenture. Tom worked at board level, giving advice about reorganisation and change to micro-social enterprises, government agencies, multinational companies and Whitehall departments.

He grows around 180 ha of winter and spring milling wheat, along with 40 ha of linseed for seed, and recently introduced spring oats to his rotation.

Since 2018 he has been on the NFU Sugar Board, directly elected by levy payers. This has meant overseeing all aspects of that organisation’s work for growers, including setting the levy, ensuring responsible finances, overseeing the research conducted and shared by BBRO, including the Beet Yield Challenge. He is currently Vice-Chair of Beet Intake – ensuring every lorry load of beet is fairly sampled and paid for. He is a member of the NFU Net Zero steering group.

Tom has a growing profile on social media, probably best known for his Twitter threads on the homegrown sugar industry and nature-friendly farming, which have made an impact outside the farming sector. He regularly writes opinion articles for Farmers Guardian.

You can follow Tom on Twitter @Tom_Clarke.