Defra reappoints Nicholas Saphir as AHDB chairman

Defra has reappointed Nicholas Saphir as chairman of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for 12 months.

His new term will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Mr Saphir said he was delighted to extend his term as head of the agricultural levy body for England “at a defining time for UK agriculture”.

See also: AHDB sector reports set out five-year spending priorities

“The AHDB has a vital role to play in helping our levy payers meet the challenges that lie ahead,” he added.

“I look forward to leading the next stage of the journey in facing up to the challenges and helping levy payers take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”

The Government has re-appointed Nicholas Saphir as Chair of the AHDB for one year, with effect from 1 April 2023.

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— AHDB (@TheAHDB) December 12, 2022

In recent months, the AHDB has been through a period of radical change, including delivering better value and more targeted services, which levy payers have highlighted as priorities.

Last month, the statutory levy board set out its five-year plans and spending priorities for its four councils: AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds; AHDB Beef and Lamb; AHDB Pork and AHDB Dairy.

“The recent launch of the new strategies for the Beef and Lamb, Cereals and Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sectors underpin our commitment to listen and deliver,” said Mr Saphir.

Internal ballots

In March, the government announced that from April the AHDB would abolish statutory levies for the potato and horticulture boards after growers voted in internal ballots to scrap them.

Tim Rycroft, AHDB chief executive, said: “Nicholas’s agricultural and commercial experience has been invaluable in helping me restructure and re-focus the AHDB to deliver better value. The AHDB team and I are looking forward to continuing working with him on the next stage of that journey.”