AHDB calls to turn residual potato levy into industry grants

AHDB is recommending that government ministers allow its remaining potato levy funds be used to support various industry projects in the potato sector.

The levy board has proposed that funding, worth almost £2m, should be given as a grant to membership organisation GB Potatoes to oversee the projects.

Industry groups including the NFU, British Potato Trade Association, Fresh Potato Supplier Association and Potato Processor’s Association have all written in support of the proposal.

See also: UK potatoes in tight supply and selling for more than £500/t

Potato growers voted to scrap the AHDB’s statutory levy in 2021. However, AHDB still holds about £1.8m in reserves related to potatoes, following the sale of its Sutton Bridge research site.

The funding, which is still subject to ministerial approval, would provide GB Potatoes with £1.372m for the first three years and then a further £426,000 could be provided for years four and five.

Graham Wilkinson, AHDB chief executive, said: “In reaching its recommendation to the minister, the board carefully considered a range of options for potato sector funds.

“The GB Potatoes proposals have wide written support from all the main industry membership trade organisations, and also meet the AHDB Board’s legal obligation to use levy funds to benefit the sector.”

A total of seven projects have been proposed to receive grant funding, including those looking at potato blight, aphids, and nutrient management, as well as a reputational management project.

Scott Walker, chief executive at GB Potatoes, said: “Our proposed initiatives are designed to confront industry obstacles, nurturing resilience and are for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

“To provide oversight, on project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, we will establish an industry advisory committee comprising industry stakeholders to work with GB Potatoes to ensure that all growers benefit from the residual levy funds.”