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Minette Batters


Minette Batters served as President of the National Farmers’ Union from 2018 to 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Representing 47,000 farmers, she led during times of significant change and instability, including political turbulence, the effects of Brexit, and sustainability challenges. Raised on her father's tenant farm in Wiltshire, she was dissuaded by him from following in his footsteps. Instead, she pursued a Cordon Bleu course then launched and ran a catering business for 20 years.

Minette worked with four Prime Ministers and six Environment Secretaries during her period at the helm of the Union, providing her with deep political and leadership insights. She represented farmers' interests during Brexit negotiations and the Covid-19 pandemic, addressing unprecedented food shortages and other crises. She also navigated the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which involved price increases for both fuel and produce, and labour shortages.

An active campaigner for a thriving rural economy and food standards, she united chefs, environmentalists, consumer groups, and animal welfare experts in a 2020 campaign, resulting in over one million signatures for the NFU Food Standards Petition. She was recognised on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour Power List and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire in 2021.


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