International food and ingredients group Associated British Foods (ABF) is to form a joint venture arable business in the UK between its arable business Allied Grain and Banks Cargill Agriculture (BCA), a subsidiary of Cargill.

Allied Grain is a purchaser and supplier of cereals and oilseeds in the UK with sales of £331m recorded for the year to 18 September 2004.

John Bason, ABF finance director, said: “The creation of Frontier signals the commitment of both partners in this joint venture to provide a comprehensive range of products and services to its farm and food industry customers spanning the whole of the country.”