The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), has challenged farmers, growers and the food industry to “step up” to address the challenge of agricultural competitiveness and productivity in a rapidly changing world.
This was the rallying cry issued by AHDB chief executive, Jane King, during a fringe meeting on the eve of this week’s Oxford Farming Conference.
Outlining the changes that have happened at AHDB so far, and highlighting the organisation’s new strategy for 2017, she called on the industry to increase productivity and competitiveness in moving towards the UK’s post-EU landscape.
“Our new strategy is about inspiring success in a rapidly changing world,” she said, adding that the importance of AHDB’s work is greater now than ever.
“This is why we have changed the way we work and brought out our new strategy that puts competitiveness and productivity squarely at the heart of what we do.
“I am challenging the industry now to work more closely with us. This is not only because we can achieve so much more by working together. But also because it’s essential to address the challenge of weak productivity growth. We need to join up more to deliver world-class innovation, skills and knowledge exchange.”
The consultation period for the new AHDB strategy closes on January 9.
Headline image shows Jane King and AHDB Chair, Peter Kendall, during the organisation’s launch in 2015