The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) can become more responsive and effective for farmers, and do so without losing sector specialisms, says board chairman, Peter Kendall.
Speaking at the recent Lincolnshire Farming Conference, Mr Kendall said that AHDB’s move towards “one organisation” was aimed at ensuring the industry got the very best from its levy board.
“Over the past year as chairman, I have been able to see at first hand the fantastic skills and knowledge of our staff, and the quality of the projects they deliver for our levy payers,” he said.
“But I believe that our organisation can work smarter, be more responsive and more effective for farmers and growers through being more joined up.”
He went on to assure delegates that the “one organisation” move would not result in any loss of sector specialisms or the principle of levies which are raised in one sector being also spent for the benefit of that same sector.
“These factors are core to AHDB and will continue,” he said, before adding that in moving forward AHDB needed to look at how to combine joint working with these principles, while talking to the industry about where levy funds should be invested.
As part of its drive towards “one organisation” AHDB is rebranding its divisions this summer.
