Growers have their chance to shape the future of AHDB

Sarah Bell, farmer and Chair of the AHDB cereals and oilseeds sector council, independent agronomist Patrick Stephenson and monitor farmer, Colin Chappell joined AHDB’s John Bates recently to discuss the significance of the upcoming AHDB Shape the Future vote. 

Costs are rising and every farmer is looking at ways to implement careful cost-management processes and to squeeze every penny they can out of their business. Therefore, says Sarah Bell, it is vitally important that growers feel they are getting value from their levy payment and to take the opportunity to have their say in how it gets spent in the future.

Sarah Bell considers AHDB as the “underappreciated gem in the industry”, providing the independent and high-quality research and development that enables farmers and the wider industry to advance. Without a body to provide those market insights and deeper knowledge, it would be challenging to make truly informed decisions. For her, AHDB serving levy payers translates to an organisation that is truly “in step” with farmers and understands the challenges facing their businesses. Sarah describes this upcoming vote as a chance for the whole supply chain to engage with how the levy is spent and sees it as a true ear-to-the-ground endeavour, because “AHDB is absolutely answerable to its levy payers.”

In his daily work, Patrick Stevenson is often asked by growers: “what do I get from my levy?” – a question to which he responds: “remarkably good value!” Patrick recognises the position of AHDB as one of “fighting the corners of growers”, ensuring they are protected against legislative challenges and afforded up-to-date information. In spite of this, he admits the need for the organisation to continually evolve if they are to deliver this value for money now, and long into the future. That is why, this pending vote is a chance for AHDB to look inwards and ensure that what they are doing is what growers want. To understand that there are things they can be doing better, and that they are listening to the requests of farmers, growers, and the industry as a whole.

Arable farmer Colin Chappell echoes the stance of the other podcast guests, arguing that no other organisation could deliver the independent, peer-reviewed and accountable wealth of information that AHDB does for “46p a tonne!”. He emphasises the need for knowledge exchange within the industry, with it being vitally important that a flow of information comes directly from farmers. Acknowledging AHDB’s willingness to listen, he urges fellow farmers to come forward and have their say in shaping the future.