The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) plans to axe a number of senior management staff as part of efforts to reduce costs by £7.8 million.
The UK farm levy body has also unveiled plans to let levy-paying farmers and agricultural businesses vote on the future direction of its activities in spring next year.
It said the bulk of the £7.8m reduction in its annual staff and overheads budget of £29m – accounting for around £6m – would come from the wind-down of its horticulture and potato sector operations.
This follows votes earlier this year on the future of a statutory levy for the potato and horticulture sectors – 66.4% of potato businesses voted to stop their levy, while 61% of horticulture business backed ending their theirs too.
AHDB has previously said the closure of both sector divisions will result in the loss of up to 140 jobs, and the organisation said its latest cost-cutting measures will be implemented over the next two years.
The other savings will come from a number of changes including a 30% reduction in the number of senior managers working at the organisation from 20 to 14.
AHDB chairman, Nicholas Saphir, said a staff restructure had already started and chief strategy officer Will Jackson was now the divisional director for engagement, while interim chief executive officer Ken Boyns is the new divisional director for services.
“This new structure puts a clear focus on day-to-day delivery across all our knowledge exchange, technical, market intelligence, exports and marketing work,” said Mr Saphir.
“At the same time there will be absolute focus on levy payer engagement and involvement in planning sector priorities and programmes.”
He said the revised senior management team will be in place at the beginning of September ahead of the arrival of the new AHDB chief executive Tim Rycroft.
“With our new team now taking shape, this autumn we will be ready to unveil fundamental changes to the way levy payers can have a better say regarding what we provide, including the introduction of regular votes on a wide range of services and delivery,” added Mr Saphir.
“We will be asking levy payers to register to vote this autumn, prior to having their say on those topics in spring 2022.”
AHDB interim chief executive officer, Ken Boyns, said the organisation was also reviewing the office provision at its headquarters in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
He said: “As part of a further phase of savings in 2022/23 we have identified the opportunity of subletting part of our Stoneleigh HQ.
“The reduction in work for potatoes and horticulture, combined with the last 18 months proving we can deliver effectively without all staff in the office five days a week, means we do not need as much office space.”