Results of Shape the Future voting for Cereals and Oilseeds

In April and May 2022, we carried out the first step in delivering our promise to put you at the heart of everything we do.

Levy payers were asked to score on a 1 to 5 scale which areas of work were the most important to them.

The sector council also received around 300 comments. The most common comments were about farm assurance.

Others urged an increased focus on regenerative practices and development of the Recommended Lists and RB209.

Many wanted to see improvements to the way AHDB communicated both to the industry and government.

The sector council considered all the views expressed in the Shape the Future vote, alongside the available funds and the challenges and opportunities for the sector.

As there was strong support for all AHDB services and a request to make improvements rather than stop services, the sector council also discussed the levy rate.

Although the sector council will look after every penny and drive for value at all times, the levy has stayed the same since 2011 and is effectively reducing each year as inflation, changes in AHDB’s VAT status, and HGCA pension liabilities all have an impact.

If levy payers wish to continue to receive the current services, then we will need to increase the levy in the future and we will discuss that with the industry