AIC at 20: Getting Government support for agri-supply businesses' energy costs
As AIC marks 20 years as the UK agri-supply industry’s leading trade association, we're looking back at some of its greatest achievements since it was founded in 2003.
Each week throughout 2023, we’ll explore a major achievement where AIC represented its Member businesses, promoted the benefits of modern commercial agriculture in the UK, and supported collaboration throughout the food chain.
This week we review how AIC encouraged the Government to extend and enhance support for agri-supply businesses during the energy cost crisis.
Cost crisis
With challenges across the supply chain, AIC work in 2022 raised food security issues and the need for the agri-supply sector to be considered as part of it.
In November, AIC gave evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee in the House of Commons, advocating for a comprehensive policy on food security.
During the session, AIC called on the Government to extend its Energy Bill Relief Scheme beyond the March 2023 deadline to give Member businesses certainty and help them plan ahead.
Speaking alongside the National Farmers Union (NFU) President Minette Batters, AIC Head of Policy and External Affairs Ed Barker answered questions from MPs on how rising production costs were affecting farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers, and highlighted strategic barriers to food security.
Watch the video below.
Additional support granted
In January 2023, the Treasury announced further help for businesses through its Energy Bills Discount Scheme. The new scheme offered a substantially higher level of support for sectors identified as being the most energy and trade-intensive, including the manufacture of fertilisers, pesticides and agrochemical products, animal feed, and grain mill products.
This lobbying win for AIC helped give its Members in the agri-supply industry greater certainty on energy costs, which in turn helped farmers and growers plan ahead and make key purchasing decisions.
Watch the video below to find out more about AIC, or visit the "About AIC" webpage to learn more about its work in support of modern, sustainable, commercial agriculture.
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Visit the AIC at 20 webpage for more content like this.
Authors
Oli Hill
As Communications Manager, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media.
