The AHDB has commissioned new research to support future discussions of farm assurance in the cereals and oilseeds sector.

The research project will also help shape a set of standards for imported combinable crops.

Analysts will look at the existing standards for imported grain as well as the legislative requirements involved, with supporting insight from industry.

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The purpose of the research is to help inform the industry and government on how assurance currently works domestically and on imports, to identify opportunities to further support the sector.

The research will be published in four phases between January 2026 and October 2026. The focus of these will be: 

• Identifying the differences between farm assurance systems in the UK, their associated standards and government legislation
• The legislative requirements for domestic and imported grain
• How farm assurance facilitates and delivers legislative and contract requirements for the supply chain as well as looking at how standards differ for imports to the UK
• How the UK could meet legislative and contractual requirements if farm assurance was adapted or did not exist.

AHDB sector council chairman Tom Clarke said:

“This project demonstrates AHDB’s commitment to ensuring there is a meaningful and insightful research paper into farm assurance to the benefit of cereals and oilseeds growers and the wider supply chain.

“The sector council are also fully committed to providing levy payers with the best possible understanding of how assurance in the cereals and oilseeds sector currently works and the potential for making improvements that benefit our industry.”

The work is in response to recommendations published in the Farm Assurance Review.

As part of this review, the AHDB in consultation with industry was asked to consider a new approach for combinable crops and assess the standards for imported food.