Neil Simmonds is the Interim Chief Farming Officer (CaFO) at Al Dahra, where he
leads efforts to drive operational excellence, technical improvement, sustainable
farming approaches, and continuous farming performance across the Group. He
brings extensive agricultural experience spanning farm management, agronomy,
agricultural consultancy, and the development and optimisation of large-scale farming
operations.
Neil’s career began with hands-on farm work at the age of 16, giving him a strong practical
foundation in crop production, field operations, and day-to-day farm management.
Over the course of his career, he has progressed into senior technical, operational, and
advisory roles, supporting farming businesses with agronomic planning, productivity
improvement, operational efficiency, and the adoption of best practices across diverse
agricultural environments.
Neil first engaged with Al Dahra in 2016 and subsequently joined the company as Technical
Farming Director in 2022 Since then, he has worked closely with regional teams across Al
Dahra Romania, Al Dahra Serbia, and Al Dahra Egypt, providing technical leadership and
practical guidance to strengthen farming performance. His work has included supporting the
implementation of best agricultural and agronomic practices, improving crop and farm
management approaches, enhancing operational discipline, and helping teams embed more
consistent, sustainable, and high-performing farming methods.