The response highlighted what is needed to help achieve this, including:
- Building world-class governance throughout the organisation to provide greater transparency and give levy-payer confidence in how their money is being spent.
- Enabling greater agility and flexibility when it comes to responding to issues of the moment.
- Focusing on each sector鈥檚 individual needs and continuing to ensure that all sector representatives are transparent and credible within the industry.
- Putting evidence and data at the heart of the five-year strategy.
- Creating a stronger connection between the industry and applied research through the Evidence for Farming Initiative and making sure it is compatible with the Agricultural Transition Period to prepare the industry for reducing direct payments.
- Ensuring that the routine five-year ballots are fair for all levy payers, including those that pay indirectly.
NFU President Minette Batters said:
鈥淎HDB has a vital role to play in the future of UK agriculture. The next few years will be more challenging than ever and we will need all hands on deck to promote our products, seek new markets and support our farmers through any changes coming down the tracks.
鈥淎s with any business or organisation, AHDB needs to be able to adapt and respond to whatever challenges come our way. We are navigating through completely unchartered waters, not only due to Brexit, but also a global pandemic and climate crisis, and agility is going to be vital in such a fast-changing environment.
鈥淐rucially, evidence and data must drive its work and value for money must shine through in everything it does 鈥� this value must then be demonstrated to levy payers.
鈥淎s part of the five-year strategy, the planned two-pronged approach to drive both farm performance and industry and product advocacy looks like a positive way forward.鈥�
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