Food and farming team to tackle Kilimanjaro charity trek

Intrepid explorers from across the food and farming industry are joining forces to climb the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Kilimanjaro, all in aid of the charity Farm Africa.

The Africa 100 Appeal for 2012 will see the team of eight climbing more than 19,000ft to take on this epic challenge, aiming to raise funds for the charity’s farming projects based in Kenya.

NFU policy director Martin Haworth is leading the challenge, due to leave the UK in September, before starting the long climb to the summit.

“We decided that the work started by the extremely successful Africa 100 Appeal, which was launched during the NFU’s centenary year in 2008, should continue to support what is a fantastic charity,” he said.

“Our charity is delighted that the NFU is once again working with Farm Africa to build on the success of the Africa 100 Appeal. Thank you to those heroic individuals from the food and farming industry who are coming together through the NFU to support Farm Africa’s life changing work to help Africa’s farmers to feed Africa’s people. We look forward to watching the progress of the team as they prepare for this challenge and we wish them well as they take on this endeavour.”
Nigel Harris

“Farm Africa helps farmers across eastern Africa to produce food more effectively so that they are better able to feed themselves and build a secure future.

“This Kilimanjaro Challenge seems the perfect fit for getting together a group of like-minded people from across the food and farming sector to raise money – and have the experience of a lifetime.

“I have been told that reaching the summit will be a truly amazing feeling – and I can’t wait to get to the top with the rest of the team and raise as much money as we can for Farm Africa. I would ask everyone to give as much as they can to this fantastic appeal and help continue what we started four years ago.”

Nigel Harris, chief executive of Farm Africa, added: “Our charity is delighted that the NFU is once again working with Farm Africa to build on the success of the Africa 100 Appeal. Thank you to those heroic individuals from the food and farming industry who are coming together through the NFU to support Farm Africa’s life changing work to help Africa’s farmers to feed Africa’s people. We look forward to watching the progress of the team as they prepare for this challenge and we wish them well as they take on this endeavour.”

There is still time to register for a place in the team so if you think you have what it takes to conquer Kilimanjaro please contact Sharon Hockley at the NFU (02476 858 500) for an information pack.

The Africa 100 Appeal team will be reaching out across the food and farming industry to raise money to end hunger and grow farming for families in eastern Africa suffering from a lack of food. Previous donations raised by the 2008 appeal amounted to a massive £220,000 and saw the launch of the Cassava Project, reinstating a traditional tuber crop and re-educating farmers and their families about its multiple uses to build food security.

Members of the team are:

• NFU director of policy Martin Haworth


• NFU assistant environment policy adviser Rebecca Wells


• Assistant director at the British Agriculture Bureau, Brussels, Sian Davies


• Robert Lasseter, farmer from Dorset


• Andrew Pimbley, farmer from Wirral


• Ross Appleby, farmer from Shropshire


• Rob Baker, agronomist and team manager from Agrii


• Andy Jones, regional cereal value chain manager – crop protection at BASF

About Farm Africa

Farm Africa is a charity working with families in rural Africa, helping them to produce food more effectively. By providing training and support to help farmers improve the way they manage their crops, livestock, forests and access to water, we help families build a future free from hunger.

Farmers Weekly in Africa

Farmers Weekly columnist Matthew Naylor and 2011 Farmers Weekly Awards Farmer of the Year Charlie Russell recently visited Africa with Farm Africa to see the charity’s work. Look out for features from them soon…