Francis brings experience from a broad background of work within production horticulture, including commercial organic seed cultivation and field-scale vegetable production. He is keen to support farmers and growers to ensure they can access and work with the seeds they need, irrespective of their scale, marketing or certification status, while also developing projects with amateur and community gardeners. Overall, he wants to develop the scope of seed stewardship and production while sharing and supporting the principles of independence, self-reliance, cooperation and equity within the sector.