Levy payers direct multi-million-pound investment for cereals and oilseeds

AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds has changed how it commissions work to give levy payers an even greater say in how it invests in research and knowledge exchange (R&KE) activities.

It follows an extensive consultation in 2022, which led to the development of the five-year sector plan, several high-profile project reviews and the establishment of an R&KE committee to commission proactive activities.

Levy-payer input into these activities is directing how AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds invests millions of pounds in R&KE activities each year.

Most of this investment is in the core research programme, which is driven by the sector plan. It includes flagship research projects, such as the Recommended Lists (RL), the Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) and fungicide performance.

To provide a more agile way to commission one-off projects to supplement its core research, the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council set up a new farmer-led R&KE committee.

Established earlier this year, the committee identifies, develops, reviews, implements and evaluates independent activities that meet levy-payer needs. It ensures that projects are scientifically valid, advance knowledge, are relevant to levy payers and offer a sufficient return on investment.

AHDB is currently asking levy payers and other stakeholders to apply for one of two roles on the committee to help strengthen its ability to answer questions raised by levy payers.

When grouped thematically, the most frequently cited questions currently relate to crop protection, crop diversification and crop nutrition.

The R&KE committee has already secured over £300,000 for proactive research from the sector council for investment in the current financial year (2024/25).

The initial activity, which includes several multi-year projects, covers:

1. Assessment of young plant resistance to yellow rust in winter wheat
2. Monitoring cabbage stem flea beetle in winter oilseed rape
3. Updating guidance on cover crops
4. Development of evidence-based cover crop case studies (cover crop champions)
5. Updating ergot management guidelines
6. Biopesticide efficacy trials in winter wheat*
7. Assessment of key crop physiology traits in cereals (including vigour)*
8. Understanding fusarium mycotoxin risk in winter and spring oat varieties*
9. Improving BYDV management tools for winter cereals*

The most recent projects (*6–9) were considered by the R&KE committee in August and the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council in September. Further information on these activities will be released in the next few months.

To ensure that core projects delivers value to industry, AHDB has conducted several high-profile project reviews to gather views from levy payers, which include the RL review and the RB209 review.

The R&KE committee is helping AHDB interpret the feedback and commission the best activities (including core and one-off investment) that speed up the adoption of innovative and sustainable practices on farm and in the supply chain.

The new R&KE approach has also strengthened AHDB’s voice in discussions with other major R&KE funders, with the aim to leverage as much funding as possible from non-levy sources.

The RL, which receives almost £3m (cash equivalent) annually from non-AHDB sources, shows what can be achieved through effective collaboration.

Ana Reynolds, who was recently appointed to oversee R&KE activities at AHDB, said:

“AHDB CEO Graham Wilkinson is clear that we must have a laser focus on levy payers. The new R&KE approach ensures our work is levy-payer led. The R&KE committee will focus our limited resources to address the most pressing challenges that face growers of cereals and oilseeds.

"A good stock of ideas for R&KE investment is essential for the approach to work, so we have made it easy for levy payers to submit ideas 24/7, via the letterbox on our website or talking with staff.”

AHDB has set up a research and knowledge exchange ideas web page that provides further information, including:

• How AHDB invests in R&KE activities
• The R&KE committee, including the current vacancies (application deadline 30 November 2024)
• Submitting an idea for investment
• Projects commissioned to date

James Standen, who chairs the R&KE committee and is a farmer member of the sector council, said:

“AHDB has a long history of funding independent research for the cereals and oilseeds sector. The new R&KE commissioning approach puts farmers at the front and centre of investment decisions.

"With their ideas considered quarterly, it also makes investment decisions more responsive to evolving priorities. It is an exciting time to be at the forefront of crop research.”

Main R&KE topic themes submitted to AHDB

The above chart illustrates the main topics for R&KE investment submitted to AHDB to date (1 November 2024). The size of the circles indicates topic frequency (with the number of responses shown).