The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has secured the support of major industry stakeholders to increase the levy in all four sectors it supports – pork, beef and lamb in England, dairy in Great Britain, and cereals and oilseeds in the United Kingdom.

This comes ahead of the application to Ministers in Defra and the Devolved Administrations for approval.

Will Jackson, Divisional Director for Engagement commented: “Today (Friday 15 Dec 23), we have recommended to Ministers to approve levy increases in the four sectors we serve. We are delighted to be doing this with the support of so many industry stakeholders who recognise the value that AHDB demonstrates through the levy and want us to do more.

“The levy rate has not increased for over 20 years in some sectors and our spending power has greatly deteriorated over that time due to inflation and the loss of our VAT status. If a levy increase is approved, AHDB can continue to deliver the valuable things that levy payers have told us are important to them and increase our activities where levy payers have asked us to do more in order to meet their expectations.”

Since October this year, AHDB have been sharing plans to increase the levy through its Funding your Future campaign. Discussions with industry and levy payers have taken place widely and culminated in a livestream event where levy payers could ask their questions about the levy increase.

The proposals, which were published by the Sector Councils in October, have now been put to Government Ministers and Devolved Administrations for them to make a decision, expected in the first quarter of 2024.