Farmers have 10 weeks to contribute to a review on the role of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which currently collects around £60 million a year in statutory levy from farmers and others in the supply chain.
The review, which is being undertaken as the UK prepares to leave the EU, will look at the AHDB’s purpose and priorities, its strengths and where improvements could be made.
Announcing the review, Defra Farming Minister, George Eustice said that it is a good time to review the role and function of this agricultural and horticultural levy body as the UK is designing a new agriculture policy from first principles.
The money collected by the AHDB is used for a range of purposes to support farmers and growers, so the Government is asking levy payers to have a say about the role and function of the various components of the AHDB in the future.
A spokeswoman for the AHDB said that the body welcomes the opportunity of gaining feedback from its members as it wants to help the industry compete in a global marketplace as the UK prepares to leave the EU.
She added that the AHDB wants to encourage members to share their views as it would like feedback on how it can drive value as an independent, evidence-based organisation that carries out marketing at home and abroad, while sharing best practice and innovation with farmers, growers and the wider industry.
To make their views known, farmers and growers, who do not need to be levy payers, must complete the online survey by midnight on 9 November. To help with this, Defra will be running a number of workshops in the weeks to come. A summary of the responses will be produced in early 2019.