The Agriculture and Horticulture Research Forum (until 1 April 2008 the Applied Research Forum for Farming and Food) was established in 2003 following a recommendation in the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food (the 'Curry Report').
The Forum provides a mechanism for industry levy bodies to collaborate in the development and integration of appropriate strategic and applied R&D programmes and associated knowledge transfer activities, and to influence Government prioritisation and investment in agri-food research. Since the 1st April 2008 the statutory levy bodies (BPEX, DairyCo, EBLEX, HDC, HGCA, and The Potato Council), have been incorporated into one levy board, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). Within the Board, six sector companies focus on the interests of specific industries. The AHRF also includes the two non-statutory levy bodies, BBRO and PGRO.
Origin
One of the recommendations of the Policy Commission on Farming and Food (The Curry Commission). was the establishment of a forum to better co-ordinate Levy Boards' applied horticulture, farming and food research, avoid duplication and maximise synergy.
The core membership of the Forum comprises a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and the Technical Directors of the 8 agricultural Levy Boards (BBRO, BPEX, DairyCo, EBLEX, HDC, HGCA, PGRO and The Potato Council). In addition, there are representatives from Defra, SEERAD, DARDNI, the Welsh Assembly, NFU, NFUS and BBSRC.
Currently the Chairman is Colin Harvey, Chairman of HDC, and the Lead Technical Director is Brian Lindsay of DairyCo.
The AHRF first met in April 2003 and since then has met three times a year.
Knowledge Transfer
There is also a group of levy body representatives that meet to promote joint knowledge transfer activities which include subjects like soil and waste.
Climate Change Project
The AHRF has recently been awarded £25,000 from Defra's Climate Challenge Fund to 'Communicate climate change to farmers' An introductory leaflet can be seen on the AHRF website
Introduction to 'Communicating climate change to farmers' project
For more details
Terms of Reference of the ARF (These are currently being updated to reflect the change to AHRF)
ARF Mission Statement (This are currently being updated to reflect the change to AHRF)
For more details of AHRF's activities, go to www.appliedresearchforum.org.uk | 
