NFU Scotland (NFUS) is holding a survey of potato growers to identify what functions carried out by AHDB Potatoes are most valued ahead of the body being wound down.
According to NFUS, since the result of the ballot on the continuation of the AHDB levy was announced, the industry has raised some concerns about the loss of some of the key functions that AHDB Potatoes carried out. As a result, NFUS and the Scottish Society of Crop Research (SSCR) are conducting a survey to identify which of these functions are most valued by the industry. The survey is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AHDB_Potatoes_Functions
The Union stresses that the results of the survey will not be used to resurrect a different version of the AHDB. The results will, however, inform discussions with government and industry about what happens after AHDB has wound down. This is to ensure that valued functions will continue to be carried out. It will also help start the process of identifying who should carry them out and how they should be funded.
Chair of NFU Scotland’s Potatoes Working Group, Mike Wilson, said, “Now that we have the result of the ballot and growers have voted ‘no’, we need to look forward to the future to protect, maintain and improve our brilliant potato industry without the AHDB having a role in that. There is also an opportunity to feed in any other suggestions that those interested in the well-being of the Scottish potato sector may have. We encourage you to complete this to let us know what you want going forward into a very promising potato growing future.”