Red Tractor has committed to reducing and simplifying on-farm audits and to embracing technology and to deliver more effective farm assurance in its response to the UK farm assurance review.
The assurance body has today published its full response to the Farm Assurance Review, which was published in January, making nine strategic recommendations and 56 detailed recommendations, covering all aspects of UK farm assurance.
Key elements of its response include:
- Red Tractor fully supports the recommendation to reduce, simplify and deliver audits more consistently. It said: “We want farmers to experience real change with smarter risk-based audits which reduce burden. We are committed to prioritising the relevant recommendations in partnership with our certification bodies, assessors and other schemes to ensure audits to Red Tractor’s standards are consistent, simplified, meaningful and as efficient as possible.”
- It fully supports the recommendation for a transformational step forward in embracing technology and managing data to deliver more effective farm assurance. It said it is committed to investing in and
embracing technology and improving data management. This will start with the roll out of initial developments to the Red Tractor Portal to improve the functionality for members and assessors. - It acknowledged that ‘more can be done to ensure farmers feel consulted, listened to and able to influence decision-making’. “However, our Board and Sector Boards agree that as a whole supply chain assurance scheme, it’s important that decision making is a collaborative process balanced between all stakeholders,” it says.
- Red Tractor said it is ‘totally committed to ensuring that farmers see, hear and feel real change’ in response to a recommendation for all farm assurance schemes to review, and improve their methods of communication with the farming industry. “We are also focusing on improving how we communicate, particularly with farmers and growers, and embedding this into our leadership culture. We will implement a new communications strategy focused on building trust and engagement with farmer,” it said.
- Red Tractor said it welcomed the Review’s recommendations that the RT Board is reaffirmed as the primary governing body for the organisation and that the owners of the scheme must show greater and more active leadership. It said the Board is committed to consulting with the Ownership Body as to how to progress this recommendation.
Improvements
The Red Tractor board of directors, comprising farmers, NFU, AHDB, retailers, processors and independent experts, has issued a statement welcoming the independent review of the way farm assurance works in UK and has committed Red Tractor to a wide-ranging programme of improvements.
The assurance scheme said it has begun work to streamline standards, improve audit efficiency and embrace new technology, all of which should reduce the audit burden for farmers. The scheme will also focus on improving how it communicates, particularly with farmers and growers.
Red Tractor said its response follows an intensive period of reflection and consultation among all Red Tractor’s Sector Board food and farming industry representatives and independent experts.
The Board’s response acknowledges the deep frustrations expressed by producers and welcomes the Review as ‘an opportunity to reset relationships with farmers, and to better align with all stakeholders on the role assurance will play in a rapidly changing world’.
Alistair Mackintosh, interim Chair of the Red Tractor Board said: “All involved with Red Tractor want farmers to feel heard, involved and proud to be part of Red Tractor. The detailed response published today is testament to our genuine commitment to deliver real change for farmers.
“The Farm Assurance Review has offered us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take stock of how assurance does and doesn’t work for producers, and a renewed focus on delivering tangible, positive change for them. Our commitments balance rigour and speed while also ensuring Red Tractor continues to deliver value for farmers and reassurance to customers.”
Stewart Houston, Pigs Sector Chair: “The Pig Sector Board is dedicated to delivering the relevant recommendations listed in the Farm Assurance Review. Working with our processor and retail colleagues we will invest in a particular focus on reducing audit duplication and refining standards, including new standards to meet the whole industry’s needs.”
Jim Moseley, Red Tractor CEO added: “This review is a turning point for farm assurance in the UK. It is a call to action for all farm assurance schemes to deliver better outcomes for farmers and producers.
“Where possible, Red Tractor has committed to immediate action, prioritising improvements where we can have most impact. For more complex issues where there is a need or opportunity to work with others, Red Tractor has already written to those involved to offer collaboration and looks forward to working with them if requested to do so.”
Red Tractor also welcomed news of the appointment of the Review’s lead commissioner Dr David Llewellyn to monitor delivery against the recommendations. Red Tractor will be submitting updates to Dr Llewellyn directly, as well as regularly updating on progress through a dedicated page on its website: redtractor.org.uk/FAR