On Wednesday (11 June 2014) HGCA Exports Chairman Mike Hambly and Environment Secretary Owen Patterson celebrated the 10^th anniversary of HGCA’s ukp and uks wheat export classifications.

The Environment Secretary visited the HGCA stand at the Cereals event to cut a cake marking ten years of the classifications, and later guests attended a reception on the HGCA stand, hosted by Mike Hambly.

Mike Hambly gave a short speech to guests, thanking those who contributed to making ukp and uks a success, highlighting the importance of exports to industry, and looking to the future of British exports.

Former British Exports Chairman George Forbes said: “I am still very proud that I played a part in their development and of how well they have been adopted by the trade. It is encouraging to hear they are still very much relevant to overseas buyers.”

The classifications ukp and uks were developed over 10 years ago in consultation with overseas buyers and exporters, and launched at the European Bourse in Paris 2004. The brands were developed to meet the needs of overseas buyers, and a recent review of customers has shown that the specifications for both brands are still meeting requirements.

As well as celebrating with Moroccan biscuits made with uks wheat, which was exported in November 2013, visitors to the HGCA stand at Cereals 2014 were able to see the current 8eight ukp and 21 uks varieties in the wheat plots.

In the past 10 years, 23.2 million tonnes of wheat have been exported from the UK to 53 different countries. In 2011/12 alone the value of wheat exports from the UK has been estimated as being worth over £400m to the UK economy.

HGCA invests 2.9% of the levy in export work, impacting around 15% of the UK cereal output.

For more information visit hgca.com/cereals