Red Tractor has committed to reducing and simplifying on farm audits, as part of its response to the Farm Assurance Review.
Red Tractor’s board of directors, which comprises farmers, NFU, AHDB, retailers, processors and independent experts, has committed Red Tractor to a wide-ranging programme of improvements.
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”.
One of the nine recommendations accepted by Red Tractor is that on-farm audits must be reduced, simplified and delivered more consistently. “We want farmers to experience real change with smarter risk-based audits which reduce burden,” Red Tractor stated in its response. “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.”
Another of the recommendations was that farm assurance schemes need to make farmers the driving force in developing standards. In response to this, Red Tractor said: “We acknowledge 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 – this was also recognised by the Campbell Tickell Review.”
In its full response, Red Tractor has responded to each of the nine strategic recommendations provided by the Farm Assurance Review’s independent commissioners, and outlined the actions it will take towards delivering the 56 detailed recommendations.
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.”
Jim Moseley, Red Tractor’s chief executive said: “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.”
David Neilson of the British Poultry Council, who sits on the Red Tractor board, said: “The British Poultry Council welcome the findings of the Farm Assurance Review. We look forward to working with the Red Tractor team to apply the recommendations and build on the foundations already in place.”