The UK Farm Assurance Review has officially been published, with lead commissioner Dr David Llewellyn stating that “significant changes are needed to win back farmer confidence”.
The farm assurance review was established by the UK farming unions and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and conducted independently by four commissioners. The commissioners include Dr David Llewellyn, Mark Suthern, James Withers and Katrina Williams CB.
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 nine-month review collected evidence from every link in the UK food supply chain. The dissatisfaction expressed by farmers was not uniform across all sectors nor across all nations, notably with assurance schemes in devolved areas working more effectively than UK-wide schemes. The report is therefore nuanced in its approach, recognising where existing arrangements work well, but being clear where changes are essential.
Assurance review recommendations
The review makes nine recommendations:
- On-farm audits must be reduced, simplified and delivered more consistently;
- There must be a transformational step forward in embracing technology;
- Schemes need to reset and/or restate their structures to establish farmers as the driving voice in standards development;
- A new industry-led initiative must set out the future environmental ambitions for farm assurance;
- The inclusion of regulatory requirements within farm assurance should be conditional on Government agreeing a form of ‘earned recognition’;
- There must be greater collaboration between farm assurance schemes across the UK;
- Schemes must better position the UK farming industry in world food markets and in competition with imported food;
- All schemes must review and improve their communication with farmers
- The Red Tractor scheme must complete the implementation of recommendations in the Campbell Tickell report on its governance.
Under these nine strategic recommendations, a total of 56 operational recommendations have also been made, with clear lead bodies and timescales.
The Commissioners have also called on Governments across the UK to take a more structured and active approach to the interaction between assurance schemes and regulation, recognising the benefits this will bring to the farming industry, as well as to consumers, and the potential it will have to contribute to the better understanding of the impact of post-Brexit farming policies.
Commenting on the report, lead commissioner Dr David Llewellyn said: “The is the first fundamental look at UK farm assurance since it was established in the 1990s. So much has changed over the last 30 years and we know that further change is on the horizon for the farming industry. Farm assurance must be a critical part of that future. However, for that to happen, significant changes are needed to win back farmer confidence where it has been lost, to build on what already works well and to secure a competitive edge for UK farming on the world stage.
“We have undertaken considerable research and taken account of a wealth of evidence from every part of the UK food and farming supply chain. We found competing interests and ambitions for the farm assurance system. Over time, that has added complexity and stress for farmers, many of whom now struggle to identify any real benefits to their business. Worse still, many feel they live in a permanent state of jeopardy with ‘make or break’ audits determining whether their businesses can operate or not. The reality is that too many farmers feel farm assurance is ‘done to them’ rather than ‘delivered with them’. It should be better than this.
“The farmers we consulted want to produce to the highest standards and to be supported by assurance schemes in that endeavour. However, they also want to be appropriately compensated for the considerable effort required by the current farm assurance system.”
“Many of our recommendations will be challenging… they are about changes to organisational cultures and expectations, as much as they are about processes.”
Dr David Llewellyn, lead commissioner
Dr Llewellyn continued: “We recognise that the system is essential to provide assurance of high production standards. However, it must deliver for all parts of the food chain, including contributing to a process of continuous farming improvement, something the approach of the current assurance system does not always provide.
“Farm assurance has also evolved differently in different parts of the UK. Whilst there are improvements required for all assurance schemes, we believe there are lessons to be learned from devolved nations where schemes work better together and where they seem to have a more constructive relationship with farmers.
“Many of our recommendations will be challenging. They are about changes to organisational cultures and expectations, as much as they are about processes. But we view them as integral to building a farm assurance system that is trusted, successful and underpins a profitable future for UK farming.”
An “integral part” of a transparent and safe food supply chain
AHDB welcomed the publication of the review in a statement: “AHDB has always maintained that farm assurance is integral to the functioning of a transparent and safe food and feed supply chain. We understand the importance of a farm assurance system that commands the complete trust and confidence of our Levy Payers. This review marks a significant step forward for farm assurance, and we are optimistic about the opportunities it presents for meaningful change across the agricultural industry.
“We extend our gratitude to the four commissioners – David Llewellyn, Mark Suthern, Katrina Williams, and James Withers – and to Promar International for their thorough and diligent work. Their wide-ranging consultations across the industry and their ability to bring together the complex strands of farm assurance into a clear and meticulously considered report are commendable.
“Over the next few weeks, we will take time to consider the findings as well as meeting with the other impacted industry parties to determine the next steps for this positive moment of change. We will update the industry and levy payers in due course.”
In a joint statement, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “We’d like to thank the commissioners for their dedication to this review and for delivering such a detailed report.
“This has been a critical piece of work and we hope it will provide a reset moment to enable Farm Assurance Schemes to better deliver for the whole UK food supply chain and our customers.
“The report outlines a set of clear recommendations which reflect the key concerns of our members, from simplifying on-farm audits to improving communication with farm businesses. Delivering on these recommendations is essential and the NFU will work with stakeholders to play its part in helping to take them forward.
“This is a thorough and complex report and we will take time to analyse it in the detail it requires.”
“Essentially, what we are looking at is a fundamental reset of farm assurance in the UK to ensure it works for the entire supply chain.”
Jonnie Hall, NFU Scotland
NFU Scotland’s deputy chief executive and director of policy, Jonnie Hall said: “We welcome this timely, comprehensive and independent, report which has unearthed the concerns and issues that we knew many of our members have about farm assurance in general.
“By setting out the importance of effective farm assurance, the report makes it clear that currently there are flaws and weaknesses that must be addressed. But, in setting out examples of good practice including those from schemes operating in Scotland, the report also provides a clear way forward for farm assurance and we are committed to playing our part in making that happen.
“Essentially, what we are looking at is a fundamental reset of farm assurance in the UK to ensure it works for the entire supply chain, not least the primary producer and the end consumer. Ensuring confidence in a robust and effective farm assurance system will be crucial for profitable farming and crofting in Scotland.
“This thoroughly comprehensive and independent review of farm assurance means we can be confident that nothing has been overlooked. Having gone through the report, we are endorsing all nine of the of the strategic recommendations made.
“NFU Scotland is committed to delivery of the relevant actions and timescales identified and will actively seek to work alongside others in doing this.
“If the required reset of farm assurance is to happen, and with some urgency, all the relevant organisations must work together to ensure the clear actions identified are effectively carried out.”
