Meet the Team

A friendly team that merges business knowledge, innovative thinking and agricultural experience.

Sarah Carr

Head of Farm491

Sarah leads Farm491, building out partnerships, R&D and commercial initiatives to help grow the UK’s AgriTech ecosystem and promote the adoption of new technologies in the future of food production. She often mentors early-stage AgriTech start-ups through programmes such as Thrive by SVG Ventures and has partnered up with EIT Food as part of their 2021 Seedbed programme. Previously Innovation Specialist at Farm491, Sarah has vast experience in supporting AgriTech entrepreneurs by providing one-to-one business support, as well as delivering sessions on business strategy, investment readiness and sector specific topics. She has a specific interest in technologies that encourage farmer empowerment and environmental sustainability.

Contact Sarah at sarah.carr@rau.ac.uk

Verity Payne

Farm491 Centre and Events Manager

Verity manages Farm491’s three incubation and innovation sites covering co-working, offices and workshops. Her role covers bringing in new members to use the offices and co-working space, building the on-site agri-tech community and ensuring the general smooth running of the facilities. She is also responsible for the on-site events, working with members to exhibit at trade shows and leads on sponsorship opportunities. This has included leading the Agri-Innovation Den in collaboration with BASF and Farmer’s Guardian for 2018 and 2019, and oversight on Farm491’s inaugural agri-tech showcase – a two day event aimed at farmers with over 100 attendees.

Verity is a two-time graduate of the Royal Agricultural University with an undergraduate degree in Equine Science and post-graduate degree in Business Management. After graduating, Verity worked in property at Savills, and has been at Farm491 since it was founded in 2016. She has been a critical part of the team performing almost every role and seen it grow from just a handful of members to the international reach it has today.

Contact Verity at verity.payne@rau.ac.uk

Scarlett Crew

Farm491 Centre Coordinator

Scarlett is Farm491’s Centre Coordinater and is no stranger to the Royal Agricultural University having been working in the Alumni Office since 2013. Alongside the skills and networks built in this role, Scarlett has also worked with Temple Farming and The Countryside Alliance.

Outside of work, Scarlett enjoys viewing life from horseback as well as helping out on the family farm.

Scarlett is a great asset to the team and is on hand to help with any member needs.

Contact Scarlett at scarlett.crew@rau.ac.uk

Ben Jones

Business Advisor

Ben is the co-founder of both Graze and Tails, and has joined Farm491 to provide business support to our members. Ben has extensive experience working in subscription-based food businesses; through raising seed capital, to start-up, to scale-up and to acquisition. Specialties of Ben’s include innovation, NPD, ops fulfilment and workplace culture. His expertise includes business strategy, marketing/PR, sales, e-commerce and branding. On working with Farm491, Ben said “I’m really excited about encouraging Farm491 members to grow their ideas and to help support their important work”.

If you are a Farm491 member, please contact Sarah to book in time with Ben. Meetings can take place virtually or at The Alliston Centre.

Contact Sarah at sarah.carr@rau.ac.uk

James Waltham

Business Advisor

James is an expert in the fresh produce industry with over 20 years in the horticultural sector. A farmer’s son from Dorset he originally trained as an agronomist but over the last 20 years has worked for a number of large, international fresh produce businesses, most recently as Managing Director of Haygrove (Growing) Ltd and as Commercial Director for a South African fruit business supplying UK, EU, ME & FE markets. James also advises a number of AgriTech businesses, such as LettUs Grow and CRM AgriCommodities. He has operated at main board level for the last 15 years, and is currently working with Xihelm Ltd as a Non-Executive Director.

James has joined Farm491 as a Business Advisor to provide strategic advice to our members, particularly around commercial and business strategy, as well as general management advice. He is passionate about people and enabling them to exceed their own expectations.

If you are a Farm491 member, please contact Sarah to book in time with James. Meetings can take place virtually or at The Alliston Centre.

Contact Sarah at sarah.carr@rau.ac.uk

Christopher Horne

Business Advisor

Chris is an entrepreneurial agribusiness operator with a great network and huge local and international experience. He is greatly excited by the unfolding AG4.0 revolution and what it can bring to the industry in performance, efficiency and sustainability. Some of Chris’s experience to date includes:

Director of Environmental Crop Solutions, an investment and advisory firm focused on agritech innovations in crop science.
Mentor to companies on GROW, the agri-foodtech accelerator programme based in Singapore and partnered with Farm491.
Co-founder & Director, Research Engine: market research and insights for agribusiness. Also, co-founder of AgTech Compass: strategy & marketing consulting for agritech companies.
Chris recently spent two years on contract supporting the UK governments Department of International Trade Agri-Tech Team where he helped attract overseas companies and investors to the UK and helped UK companies to export around the world.

Previously he spent 20 years in a range of marketing, product development & management positions within major agribusinesses – including UK, European, Asia-Pacific & Global roles. Chris has joined Farm491 to provide business support to our members. Particular business competence areas include business strategy & planning, marketing, market analysis and market research, branding and communications, business development, project management, including new product development and bringing complimentary parties together in partnerships. Chris’s main interests in the AgriFood Tech industry lie within crop science (from crop protection, nutrition and agronomy, through to genetics and breeding), vertical farming, the soil microbiome, robotics and plat-based foods.

If you are a Farm491 member, please contact Sarah to book in time with Chris.

Contact Sarah at sarah.carr@rau.ac.uk