Peter Kendall reappointed AHDB Chair
Sir Peter Kendall will remain Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board following his reappointment.
Sir Peter Kendall is to continue as Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) after being reappointed by the Environment Secretary for a further three-year term.
The reappointment was also approved by the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland.
Farming Minister George Eustice said:
Food and farming is our biggest manufacturing industry, generating £110 billion a year.
Since taking over as Chair, Peter has provided AHDB with strong leadership, driving innovation and best practice across this key industry, helping increase resilience and competitiveness so it is well placed to take advantage of a rising demand for the UK brand.
I am very pleased he will continue in the role. I look forward to working with Peter and AHDB to ensure food and farming goes from strength to strength, and levy payers are in the best possible position to maximise opportunities, as we prepare to leave the EU.
Peter Kendall said:
This is an incredibly important time for UK agriculture. Our decision to leave the EU will have an enormous impact on the industry.
Our job is to maximise the opportunities offered by this decision and I believe that AHDB is therefore needed now, more than ever, to inspire our farmers, growers and the wider industry to succeed in this rapidly changing world.
I remain optimistic for the future of British Agriculture. The British brand is valued around the world and our best businesses can compete with the best in the world.
AHDB Chief Executive Jane King said:
I’m delighted we will continue to be able to work closely with Peter to continue the strong work that has been put into revitalising the organisation.
His support for our new vision and strategy, and the changes we have made at AHDB to deliver for farmers and growers, has been a key element of the success we have had so far. We now need to build on this and I have no doubt there will be much more to come during the next three years.
Peter, an arable and poultry farmer from Eyeworth, in East Bedfordshire, was President of the National Farmers Union (NFU) for eight years between 2006 and 2014.
He was first appointed Chairman of AHDB in April 2014.
Notes to editors:
- Appointments to the AHDB Board are made by ministers in Defra, DAERA (Northern Ireland), Welsh Government and Scottish Government and in accordance with the Code issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
- Further information can be found on AHDB’s website.