Following recommendations in the Farm Assurance Review, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has detailed the key areas where it will take action.
The NFU has responded to recommendations in the Farm Assurance Review, which was commissioned by the UK farming unions and the AHDB, by outlining the steps it will take to deliver on the report’s recommendations.
In a statement, the NFU has said that of the review’s 56 recommendations, there are 13 that require its direct involvement, either in a leading or supporting role, and that it will be working with other relevant stakeholders to “drive much-needed change and better delivery for the whole UK food supply chain and its customers”.
Areas for action
The NFU has set out some of the key areas where it will take a leadership role. These include:
- Clarifying the purpose and scope of farm assurance: it will seek to give clear direction for schemes now and in the future, while recognising and delivering autonomy and value for individual farming sectors.
- Data ownership: it will work closely with AHDB to navigate the challenges of data ownership, ensuring that data collection benefits scheme members and adopting simple methods of data collection that avoid duplication and ensure that the value of data is recognised.
- Developing and implementing environmental standards: it says that it must make sure that any environmental standards have a clear purpose and value, that communications are effective, and that farmers and growers are involved in development from the start.
- Informing UK farming about standards in other nations: the NFU is committed to help bridge this knowledge gap amongst its members.
- Ownership of Red Tractor: as part of the Red Tractor Ownership Body, it is committed to working with the Red Tractor Board and other owners to deliver the best possible balance of active leadership alongside the Board’s operational delivery and will ensure this process happens transparently.
- A formal assessment of changes to Red Tractor: this will be reviewed and the NFU will support this work by funding (alongside AHDB and the other UK farming unions) the work of lead commissioner Dr David Llewellyn and Promar to independently monitor progress against the FAR’s recommendations.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw commented: “It’s clear that change is needed to ensure farm assurance schemes are fit for a modern farming environment.”
“Work is already underway on multiple aspects of the recommendations but there is a lot of work to do, and change will not happen overnight.”
NFU president Tom Bradshaw
Bradshaw added: “The review’s recommendations reflect the key concerns of our members and the NFU is committed to playing its role in delivering these so that farmers and growers, the wider food supply chain, and our customers all see the benefit.
“Work is already underway on multiple aspects of the recommendations but there is a lot of work to do, and change will not happen overnight. That’s why it’s important that progress is carefully monitored and reported on, something the NFU is glad to support through funding.”
