The National Sheep Association (NSA) has declared the Farm Assurance Review, released last week, a ‘huge victory and major step forward’ for making standards simpler and more relevant to sheep farmers.
The first UK-wide review of farm assurance has called for a fundamental reset of the system to rebuild confidence amongst farmers.
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “NSA has regularly made itself unpopular by consistently challenging our main farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, over several years and we raised our head well above the parapet last year when we wrote to the Assured Food Standards/Red Tractor Board saying that unless significant change came about we were prepared to demand a vote of no confidence in the leadership team.
“Past NSA chairman Bryan Griffiths plays a vital role representing NSA on the Red Tractor Beef and Lamb Board, supported with his wife Liz who is an enormous help and driving force.”
“The implementation of these recommendations should allow the rebuilding of a new, fit for purpose, assurance scheme with NSA helping to keep it grounded and practicable.”
Bryan Griffiths, Devon sheep farmer and past NSA chairman
Devon sheep farmer Griffiths added: “The comprehensive review highlights the issues that have beset farm assurance in recent years and makes detailed recommendations for the way forward. Among the numerous recommendations made by the independent commissioners is a need to ‘clarify and reset’ the purpose of assurance. They also acknowledged the impact of participation in farm assurance on mental health by recommending that ‘on-farm audits must be reduced, simplified and delivered more consistently.’
“With specific reference to Red Tractor, the report notes that ‘a significant proportion of farmers and growers have lost confidence in the operations of the scheme and ‘the overwhelming call is for a new leadership approach and culture’. It also refers to appointments to sector boards being independent of the senior executive team, which is also something I particularly welcome. The implementation of these recommendations should allow the rebuilding of a new, fit for purpose, assurance scheme with NSA helping to keep it grounded and practicable.”
The nine month review, established by the UK farming unions and the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), was conducted independently by four Commissioners.
It concludes that farm assurance is critical to the industry’s future, is delivering necessary assurances on quality to consumers but must make some fundamental changes to address growing frustration amongst farmers in how it is delivered. The report is nuanced in its approach, recognising where existing arrangements work well, but being clear where changes are essential.
NSA has long been committed to the principle of farm assurance and would like to see as few barriers as possible for sheep keepers to sign up and remain scheme members. The Association believes farm assurance should be based around core industry foundation schemes that provide the option for farmers to give a declaration of legal compliance to guarantee food safety and animal welfare. Standards should reflect this foundation level and not be developed to suit consumer/retailer trends.
This farm assurance review supports NSA’s belief that implementation at farm level must be clearly and practically explained, using a common-sense approach. Any changes to the standards must be developed in partnership with industry stakeholder groups, such as NSA, and then be communicated clearly, consistently and in good time.
