AHDB has agreed to transfer surplus levy funds to Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP), which was established after a majority of growers voted to end the statutory levy.
The AHDB Board said it had agreed in principle for the transfer of up to £1 million to the new horticultural company, set up after growers agreed to abolish AHDB's statutory levy.
The levy organization said it had acted to support the industry and Defra in securing long-term support for 'essential' Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) and Emergency Approvals (EA) work for the sector.
It is envisaged the funding will bring a degree of certainty and enables important ongoing work to continue as the new organization develops its operation.
Discussions are still taking place between the parties on the exact details of the arrangements, but industry associations have signaled their support of a new voluntary subscription model as proposed by HCP.
The move is considered a natural follow-on from the work previously undertaken by AHDB Horticulture.
Read the complete article at https://www.farminguk.com.