About
The APPG was established in October 2008 in response to growing concerns over the heightened Food Crisis and a steady decline in the funding of Agricultural research for International Development at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Shortly after its establishment, the Secretary of State for International Development showed his support for our undertaking in a positive letter to our former chair Ian Gibson.
An Aide Memoire outlining the work of the APPG during its first twelve months can be viewed here.
View the Original Terms of Reference for the APPG.
Co-Chairs - Rt Hon. David Curry, MP (Conservative) and Lord Cameron of Dillington (Crossbench).
David Curry is an experienced Parliamentarian who received a BA degree in Modern History from Corpus Christi College Oxford before attending Kennedy School of Government. From there he moved on to work as a journalist, culminating in a position as World Trade Editor for the Financial Times. From 1979–1989 he served as an MEP for Essex North East before taking up his current seat in Westminster for Skipton and Ripon in 1987. Upon his election he became a member of the Agriculture Select Committee until being moved into Government as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1989, later becoming Minister of State for that Department in 1992. In 1993 he moved sideways to the Department of the Environment, becoming a member of the Privy Council in 1996. His next position was Shadow Agriculture Secretary in 1997, before taking up the Chair of the EFRA Select Committee from 1998 until 2003 when he returned to the Shadow Cabinet.
Lord Cameron of Dillington is a life-peer and cross-bench member of the House of Lords. He was educated at Harrow and later Oxford University where he studied modern History before becoming manager of Dillington Estate in Somerset in 1971, the country estate having been held by his Mother's family for some 250 years. Between 1995 and 1997 he was National President of the Country Land and Business Association and a member of the Government's Round Table for Sustainable Development from 1997 until 2000 when it was superseded by the Sustainable Development Commission. In addition to this Lord Cameron has held the position of Chair of the Countryside Agency (1999–2004) and was the UK Government's rural advocate for England from 2000 to 2004. Knighted in 2003, he joined the Hose of Lords a year later and is currently a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Agricultural Societies.
The Executive
Following Elections at the start of the Parliamentary Year, the following individuals have taken office for 2008/09:
- Secretary - Doug Naysmith MP (Labour)
- Vice-Chairs - James Gray MP (Conservative); Roger Williams MP (Liberal Democrats) and the Countess of Mar (Cross Bench).
- Details of the Group's full membership.
The Steering Committee
The APPG is fortunate enough to be able to call upon a diverse spectrum of highly respected academic institutions, trusts, foundations, NGOs, and private individuals in the support of its work.
The APPG is supported by contributions from within this stakeholder group. It receives no funding from individual Political Parties or the Government. Further details of how the APPG is funded can be found in the Offical Parliamentary Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups listed below.
The APPG's Entry in the Official Parliamentary Register can be found here. The rules governing APPG activities can be found here.