Chief Agriculture Officer Dave Walker - from pig farmer to bobby to auditor

Foresight from SCI

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Dave Walker is chief agriculture officer for Supply Chain In-sites (SCI), in this podcast with Dom Burch they discuss Dave's career transition, the role of remote auditing in agriculture, and future trends in the industry.
Career Background and Transition:
Dave shares his journey from being born into a farming family to eventually leading the agriculture division at SCI. His diverse experiences include working on his family's farm, joining the police force, and transitioning to agriculture auditing and certification. His background gives him a unique perspective and empathy towards farmers, which he finds invaluable in his current role.
Remote Auditing:
Dave highlights the innovation of remote auditing, which became a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a significant role in establishing remote audits in agriculture, demonstrating that compliance could effectively be assessed via video links. This adaptation allowed for continuous monitoring and maintained standards despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Future Trends and Sustainability:
Looking towards the future, Dave discusses the importance of environmental sustainability in agriculture. He notes the industry's slow pace of change and the need for consistent metrics to measure and demonstrate improvements effectively. The discussion also touches on the potential benefits of AI in monitoring animal health, which could lead to earlier interventions and better welfare outcomes.
Trust and Compliance:
Dave emphasises the importance of building trust with customers through transparency and honest communication. He believes in being a partner rather than just a service provider, which helps in understanding and meeting customer needs more effectively.