Potato Review

4 POTATO REVIEW SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 NEWS Editor Stephanie Cornwall 01778 395055 stephanie.cornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk Multimedai Sales Executive eresa Geeson 01778 392046 theresag@warnersgroup.co.uk Publisher Juliet Loiselle 01778 391067 Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Design Amanda Calre Subscriptions 01778 392464 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions & advertising copy Potato Review, Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH www.potatoreview.com ISSN 0961–7655 © AREMI Ltd 2018 e publishers are not necessarily in agreement with opinions expressed in this journal. No responsibility can be accepted for statements made by contributors or advertisers. POTATO REVIEW is published by: Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH September/October 2021 PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 Growers’ BetterLevyGroup outlines its vision THE Growers’ Better Levy Group (GBLG) is calling for Defra to support a grower-managed research agency run by growers following the ballot on the AHDB statutory levy for horticulture and potato growers. Made up of a voluntary group of 36 independent growers/operators in the potato and horticulture sectors, the group advocates a collaborative approach to innovation, research and development, as well as knowledge exchange and connecting researchers to growers. The group has outlined all the priority areas for innovation, research and development required by the UK’s potato and horticulture sectors and defined how a grower-run R&D investment board might operate. Group chairman Phil Pearson, Group Development Director at APS Group, said the group recently met Victoria Prentis fromDefra and explained that it required Defra’s support foran independent, grower-managed, research agency funded by an investment levy. “The agency would emulate models that already exist in both New Zealand and Australia,” he said. The R&D would be directed by an elected, independent board of representative growers who would decide on research priorities and projects, in consultation with the wider industry, including businesses and grower associations.” The group has also shared the following asks with Minister Prentis: 1. R&D provision will be competitively tendered for. 2. Key AHDB sta must not be lost from the industry and halted projects deemed vital by the sectors must be completed. 3. The continuation of a small Statutory Levy is necessary to fund critical work. 4. A larger voluntary investment levy will be necessary for agreed programmes of work and growers should have the ability to vote for this by sector on a regular basis. 5. Within crop sectors, voluntary funds will be raised for the whole sector to fund projects that benefit all, or they will be raised on an individual crop basis for crop specific projects. The option will be there to fund longer term projects. 6. To fund programmes of work, crop specific investment funds will be created, accessing investment funds. Tax relief and match funding by Defra should be made available. 7. The overhead costs should not exceed 15% of levies paid. Potato sector wind-down plays key role in £7.8 AHDB budget reduction THE wind-down of the potato and horticulture sectors is making a significant contribution to a £7.8m reduction in the AHDB’s annual sta and overheads budget, the organisation has stated. AHDB is to make £7.8m of reductions from the budget of £29m as part of plans to reduce operational costs and improve e ciency over the next two years. Its Change Programme for 2021 to 2026 reveals reductions of around £6m will come from the wind-down of the horticulture and potato sectors. Most of the reductions will be in place by March 2022, with the remainder during 2022/23. The number of senior managers is being cut from 20 to 14, a reduction of 30%. Jackson, Chief Strategy O cer, will take on the role of Divisional Director - Engagement while Interim CEO/Chief Finance and Operations O cer, Ken Boyns, will become AHDB’s new Divisional Director – Services. AHDB Chair Nicholas Saphir said the revised senior management team would be in place this month (September) ready for the arrival of the new CEO Tim Rycroft.