With 35 years’ experience advising ornamental growers, Ian Todd is expanding the area to include growers and distributors in the North of England.  

Born and bred in Scotland, Ian is based just south of Glasgow.  He joined ICL’s technical area sales team in 2015 advising customers and distributors in Scotland.  BASIS and FACTs qualified, Ian works with ornamental growers − from bedding plant producers to unique cell-grown tree specialists – advising on growing media mixes, precision nutrition and our expanding range of plant protection products. 

How did you get in to the industry?

I started out working for a Scottish horticultural distributor. Having clocked up 25 years’ broad experience, I wanted to specialise and find a more technical role.  I joined the technical sales division of another UK growing media manufacturer and starting focusing on growing media, crop nutrition and plant protection.

A normal day?

While no two days are the same, I do spend a lot of time on the road!  While there is the occasional day spent in my office doing paperwork, I like to be out calling on customers.  To give the best technical advice, nothing beats actually seeing the crop and production systems in place.  With new technologies coming through all the time, we are constantly learning and being stretched.

What is the best aspect of your job? 

I genuinely relish a challenge.  Getting out on to nurseries and talking to growers and, where necessary, solving production issues − that makes me happy!  It is very satisfying to return to a nursery to find your advice has been taken and the crop is back on track. Within the ICL technical team there is a good depth of technical knowledge and experience to solve growers’ problems.  

Any areas of particular interest?

While I’m a strong advocate for peat based growing medias, with the advantages they give in many situations, I’m also particularly interested in our new Levington Advance Sustain peat-free range. 

While peat-free can afford its own advantages to certain crops, I feel it is important growers gain experience using it as the management is different.   At the end of the day, retailers can turn round and demand peat free plants – this has happened in the past.

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