Funding and structure

How we are funded

The work of AHDB is funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain through statutory levies – not from central Government. The funds raised from each commodity sector are ring-fenced to ensure they are used only to the benefit of the sector from which they were raised.

Statutory instrument

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2022 and The Agriculture and Development Board Order 2008 define the statutory functions of AHDB. A copy of the 2008 Order (Statutory Instrument) and 2022 Amendment can be found via these links:

• The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008
• The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2022

AHDB strategic plan

AHDB publishes a three year Corporate Strategy. It includes the strategies and targets proposed by our four sector councils and also the levy rates required to deliver these plans.

AHDB structure

Our philosophy is that levy payers are at the heart of what we do. In order to deliver genuine levy payer focus there is a sector advisory committee (known as ‘sector council’) for each of the four commodity sectors represented by AHDB. Each sector council comprises levy payers, other stakeholders from the sector and independent members. The main AHDB Board has delegated the responsibility to each sector council to develop the most appropriate strategies to meet the challenges of the sector; to ensure the relevant levy rate is recommended in order to provide adequate funding for the required work; to monitor strategy implementation and to approve remedies where performance deviates from plan. The sector council members are appointed by AHDB.

The main AHDB Board consists of the chairman, the four chairs of the sector councils and three independent members. The main AHDB Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Defra, acting with Welsh Government Ministers, Scottish Ministers and the relevant Northern Ireland department. Visit our management team page for more information on our main and sector councils and their members. 

Contact details and biographies are available for our key staff, should you need to get in touch. Visit our key contacts page for more information.

Audit and governance

The AHDB levy income comes under Treasury rules for the governance of public money. The National Audit Office (NAO) is responsible for the external auditing of the AHDB accounts and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) acts as AHDB’s ‘sponsor’ Government department. The AHDB Accounting Officer is accountable to Defra Ministers and Devolved Administrations on the appropriate use of levy funds and corporate governance standards applicable to public bodies. A framework document sets out the broad framework within which AHDB and Defra/Devolved Administrations are required to operate in their relationship.