Letterbox: Submit research and knowledge exchange (R&KE) ideas to AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds

We provide independent evidence to help levy payers navigate the many challenges associated with farming. Find out how you can submit research and knowledge exchange (R&KE) ideas to help us answer the most pressing questions facing growers of cereals and oilseeds.

In addition to core activities, such as the Recommended Lists (RL), our Cereals & Oilseeds sector plan provides scope to fund R&KE activities that speed up the adoption of innovative and sustainable practices on farm and in the supply chain.

Our activity must be levy payer led, so we welcome any ideas for investment from levy payers that address the long-term profitability of the cereals and oilseeds sector.

Letterbox is your oportunity to submit ideas to us, either by emailing research.ideas@ahdb.org.uk or completing this short form.

Your details will be kept in line with our privacy notice.  We may contact you about the information submitted.

• Ideas that align with our sector plan will be prioritised
• Contact an appropriate member of the AHDB team to discuss your submission
• Be specific by providing as much information as possible, including why the topic is important (to you and the wider industry)

1. Anyone* can submit questions or ideas to AHDB (via email or at events).
2. AHDB staff review submissions and develop potential project outlines.
3. The R&KE committee review the project outlines, considering the value for levy payers, and either rejects or accepts them.
4. For accepted project outlines, the committee may request a full project brief (covering potential costs, collaboration opportunities and the approach required) or a scoping review (to provide an overview of the evidence).
5. The committee reviews all information provided and makes recommendations to the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council – this could include a request for research, communication or KE activities.
6. Information about key investment decisions, including research calls, are published on this web page.

*Although we welcome ideas from non-levy payers, we do not accept speculative research proposals.

The team regularly reviews submissions to identify priority areas for discussion at R&KE committee meetings.

To identify priority areas, they consider how often a topic has been mentioned and the potential benefit to industry of answering the questions posed.

Proposals are assessed by the R&KE committee and the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council during regular (usually quarterly) meetings.

This levy-payer-led research commissioning process was introduced in 2024. 

Keep up to date with the latest research and agronomy news from AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, sign up for the monthly Agronomy Focus eshot: preferencecentre.ahdb.org.uk

James Standen, a farmer and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council member, chairs the R&KE committee.

Ana Reynolds leads the development of R&KE activities for AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds that address priorities identified by levy payers.