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Written by Alistair Driver
AHDB has unveiled its new five-year strategy, including plans to give levy payers a much bigger say in the service it delivers and its priorities.
The strategy for 2021 -2026 includes a commitment to a ballot every five years on the future of the levy as the changes focus on significantly improving levy payers’ engagement, including on how much levy is collected and where it is spent. Delivering value for money and designing a modern levy system is at the heart of the future, starting with horticulture and potatoes.
The strategy focuses work in three areas – Evidence and Data, Farm Performance and Marketing and Exports.
The levy body said utilising evidence and ensuring facts, insight and data underpin all its work will be key in the new strategy – from ‘what works’ on farm to where opportunities exist for British product at home and overseas, using ‘world class consumer insight’.
A new AHDB Evidence For Farming initiative will aim to support agricultural innovation, improving and measuring the way best practice is shared across the industry, with a specific focus on the impact on business profitability of applying environmental measures.
AHDB’s future marketing work will continue to champion the reputation of British food and farming. There will be marketing campaigns focusing on health, nutrition and the environment to ensure consumers continue to purchase and enjoy meat, dairy and potatoes, as part of a balanced diet. The first key campaign in this area launches from January 4, 2021.
On exports, AHDB will boost its activity opening up new export markets for British produce in countries such as Japan, China, the US and the Middle East. Work will also continue in building opportunities in existing markets in the wake of exiting the EU and new international trade deals.
AHDB Chair Nicholas Saphir said the strategy and change programme demonstrated AHDB was listening and looking to build on the ‘Five Commitments’ it made in the wake of the Government’s Request for Views published earlier this year.
“We have listened very carefully to levy payers’ concerns about delivering value for money in such challenging times, and ensuring our work programmes are fit for purpose,” he said.
“We fully recognise there are genuine differences between challenges facing sectors, crops and species and that one size of offering does not fit all. Levies in the future must be set to reflect the value provided and work priorities clearly agreed with levy payers
“In addition, AHDB will review the current tools, services and products across all its sectors to see how they are being used by farmers and growers. We will keep listening to levy payers with open Board meetings, new levy payer user groups and developing interaction both in person and online.”
With new farm support policies, changing consumer behaviours and new trading arrangements on departing the EU, he said AHDB was committed to be well placed to deliver effectively for levy payers. AHDB’s future direction also bolsters its focus on shaping environmental solutions on farm and across the supply chain, to meet the challenges of sustainability and climate change.
- The full AHDB strategy and proposed sector plans are published for consultation and can be found online at ahdb.org.uk/strategy. The closing date for feedback is January 21, 2021.
- Horticulture and potato levy payers can also find out more about the proposed changes to their levy system at ahdb.org.uk/strategy.
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