Tributes pour in for “inspirational” LEAF CEO Caroline Drummond

There has been an outpouring of grief for LEAF chief executive Caroline Drummond from all corners of the agricultural industry, after it was confirmed that she passed away this week.

LEAF described her as “an inspiration”, adding that her “passion, determination, foresight and energy” transformed the organisation from its small beginnings 30 years ago, to the globally recognised and respected organisation it is today.

LEAF chair Philip Wynn said: “There really are no words to express how much Caroline will be missed within LEAF and the farming industry; but most deeply by her family, to whom we extend our greatest sympathy.”

NFU president Minette Batters commented on Twitter: “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Caroline’s passing. She was a tour de force within the agricultural community, her sense of purpose and commitment was renowned, and for which she will be greatly missed.

“Caroline was first and foremost passionate about environmentally-friendly farming. She recognised how food production worked hand-in-hand with the environment and was a fantastic advocate for integrated farm management.

“She wanted to share this vision with the wider public, and hundreds of thousands of people have visited farms over many years through the Open Farm Sunday initiative she championed, where they saw farming and the environment in action.”

Ms Batters added that Caroline had been a driving force behind educating young minds about where food comes from and schools across the country have benefitted from her work.

Farming minister Victoria Prentis added that Caroline “did so much to promote regenerative farming” and Farming Community Network noted the “enormous impact” she had across the industry over the decades.

“A friendly face and positive driving force”

Caroline was educated at Seale Hayne Agricultural College and became a lecturer in agronomy at Shuttleworth College, joining LEAF when it was established in 1991.

She was a founding member of the European Initiative for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture, served as chairman of the 2005 Oxford Farming Conference Council, and as a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.

She was also a founding director of the Assured Combinable Crop Scheme and sat on a variety of steering groups, including various Defra committees and the Boards of Rothamsted Research and the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Caroline was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to the agriculture industry and in 2013 she received an honorary doctorate from Harper Adams in recognition of her work to combine modern farming with conservation and in engaging the public in farming matters.

University deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Michael Lee, said: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Caroline Drummond MBE, whose loss will be felt across the whole farming community.

“Caroline was both a friendly face and positive driving force, advocating for both the development of more sustainable farming methods and the facilitation of greater connection and understanding between the food-buying public and agriculture.”