What Dr Anthony Hopkins’ Appointment Means for Levy Payers
Written by Chris Fellows from The Farming Forum
The AHDB – Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has announced the appointment of Dr Anthony Hopkins as its new Cereals and Oilseeds Sector Director. Taking the reins on 29 June 2025, Hopkins steps into a role that is critical to the future of UK arable farming.
At a time when the sector is grappling with volatile markets, changing agricultural policies, and post-Brexit trade friction, the leadership of the AHDB has never been more scrutinised. Levy payers are rightly asking: who is the new director, what is his track record, and what does his appointment mean for the ongoing concerns about the AHDB’s relationship with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU)?
This article takes a deep dive into Dr Hopkins’ background, his policy stances, and the complex dynamics surrounding his new position.
A Foundation in Farming and Policy
Dr Anthony Hopkins is not a career bureaucrat disconnected from the realities of agriculture. He was raised on a mixed beef, sheep, and arable farm in Worcestershire, where he spent 12 years working hands-on before pursuing higher education. This practical grounding is complemented by a strong academic background; he holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in political strategy from the University of Birmingham, where he also spent several years lecturing and researching politics and policy.
This blend of practical farming experience and high-level political strategy has defined his career trajectory, allowing him to navigate the complex intersection of agricultural needs and government regulation.
The NFU Years: Defending the Arable Sector
Hopkins’ most prominent role prior to his recent work was his five-year tenure at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), which he joined in early 2019. Driven by a desire to shape the rapidly changing landscape of farming policy, he progressed quickly through the ranks. After initial stints with NFU Sugar and the plant health team, he became the NFU’s Chief Combinable Crops Adviser.
In this senior position, Hopkins was at the forefront of several critical and often contentious issues affecting the arable sector. He was instrumental in navigating the industry through significant challenges, including uncertainty over farm support, fertiliser availability, and stringent regulatory changes.
Two key policy areas defined his time as Chief Crops Adviser:
1. The Defence of Urea Fertiliser: Hopkins advocated fiercely for retaining farmers’ access to solid urea fertiliser. He was a primary architect and proponent of “Option Four,” an industry self-regulation approach designed to prevent a total government ban on solid urea. He argued that a ban would have been “disastrous” for farm businesses, particularly given the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine. His approach emphasised pragmatic solutions over blanket prohibitions.
2. Navigating Farming Rules for Water: He provided crucial guidance to NFU members on complying with Environment Agency regulations regarding green cover and organic manure applications. He emphasised the need for clear planning and justification to avoid penalties, stating at the time: “It is more important than ever that we show the government, regulators and critics that once again the approach of working with the NFU to create good policy is better than banning things.”
Additionally, Hopkins represented the NFU on the Leadership Group for the Digital Passport (Combinable Crops) project, a major industry initiative aimed at digitising grain supply chain data.
Championing Innovation at the BSPB
In January 2024, Hopkins left the NFU to take on a newly created role as Head of Policy at the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB). This move marked a shift from broad agricultural representation to a sharp focus on genetic innovation and trade.
During his 18 months at the BSPB, Hopkins became a vocal and effective advocate for the plant breeding sector, focusing heavily on two main areas:
Precision Breeding and Gene Editing: Hopkins wrote extensively on the necessity of gene editing for the future of agriculture. In a notable article for Science for Sustainable Agriculture, he sought to demystify genetic mutation, arguing that precision breeding is essential for developing crop varieties that can withstand climate change and improve food security. He highlighted the regulatory absurdity where a CRISPR-edited tomato might face more hurdles than a variety created decades ago by exposing seeds to radiation.
Post-Brexit Trade and Seed Imports: Hopkins was highly critical of the border friction resulting from Brexit. He frequently highlighted the “existential threat” posed by border delays and increased bureaucracy on seed imports. In a 2024 BSPB news release regarding delays to oilseed rape trials, he warned: “The last thing this country needs is for more breeders to decide moving seed to the UK is too much trouble… UK farmers, growers, and supply chains are missing out on the latest genetic innovation.” He actively campaigned for a “Good Reset” in EU-UK relations to remove sanitary and phytosanitary barriers.
The Elephant in the Room: The AHDB-NFU Relationship
While Dr Hopkins’ CV is undeniably impressive, his appointment touches upon a long-standing sensitivity within the farming community: the perceived “cosy” relationship between the AHDB and the NFU.
Both organisations are headquartered in the Midlands. Over the years, this physical closeness has been mirrored by a perceived institutional closeness. Independent levy payers have frequently pointed to a “revolving door” of personnel between the two bodies, expressing frustration that the AHDB sometimes acts as an extension of the NFU rather than a strictly independent, evidence-based levy board.
This dissatisfaction came to a head in the 2021 ballots that resulted in the abolition of the statutory levies for horticulture and potatoes. A subsequent government consultation highlighted that many farmers felt the AHDB was disconnected from industry needs and did not deliver value for money.
Despite AHDB’s recent restructuring and promises of a “laser focus” on levy payers, joint initiatives, such as the recently commissioned independent UK Farm Assurance Review following the Red Tractor backlash, continue to fuel concerns among non-NFU members that their independent voices are being marginalised.
Analysing the Appointment: A Complex Lens
Dr Hopkins’ appointment must be viewed through this complex lens. Sarah Woolford didn’t stay in the role very long, which highlights the internal struggles at AHDB. This is mirrored by the short tenures for Graham Wilkinson and Tim Rycroft. The revolving door of board-level staff at AHDB is un-nerving. Helen Herniman has to cement this situation.
Potential Concerns:
For levy payers wary of NFU influence, Hopkins’ five-year tenure as a senior NFU adviser may raise concerns that the “revolving door” remains open and that NFU policy priorities might unduly influence AHDB’s research and knowledge exchange agenda in the cereals and oilseeds sector.
Mitigating Factors:
Conversely, Hopkins brings undeniable expertise. His PhD in political strategy, his practical farming background, and his recent experience at the BSPB, where he advocated fiercely for technological innovation and trade solutions, demonstrate a broad understanding of the sector that extends beyond his NFU tenure. Furthermore, his work at the BSPB often involved criticising government bureaucracy and advocating for commercial realities, aligning with the AHDB’s renewed mandate to deliver tangible value to farm businesses.
In his appointment statement, Hopkins acknowledged the current difficulties facing farmers, stating: “At a challenging time for the sector, the research, evidence and insight AHDB provides is more important than ever, and I’ll be focused on ensuring that we deliver for levy payers.”
His success in the role will likely depend on his ability to demonstrate clear independence from his former employer and deliver measurable productivity and profitability improvements for all cereals and oilseeds levy payers, regardless of their union affiliation.
Should he pursue an “NFU first” approach to running Cereals and Oilseeds, it will likely lead to a levy payer vote into the future of the sector based on feedback from levy payers who want the sector to deliver on its promises, not be an extension of the NFU.
The industry will be watching closely. Dr Hopkins has the knowledge and the experience to drive the sector forward, but he must first prove that his allegiance lies solely with the levy payers who fund his work.
Want your brand in the room when farmers are talking? Book advertising with Agri Web Media.