We were extremely heartened this week to read the UK Farm Assurance Review of Red Tractor (PDF), conducted by a team of independent commissioners. Their findings and recommendations chime perfectly with the on-the-ground experience of our members.

Perhaps the strongest impression to come out of this process is that the industry collectively wants a functional, well-run assurance body. And, as the report suggests, this can be best achieved through reforming Red Tractor.

Despite its problems, the Red Tractor brand has built up considerable equity which shouldn’t be given away lightly. But root and branch reform is still required to ‘reset’ the organisation and address one of the biggest shortcomings which is the “lack of ownership farmers feel of RT and its future direction.” Perhaps the most important reform should be to get farmers on board and invested again in Red Tractor. The farming organisations that for the ownership committee of Red Tractor are perfectly placed to re-establish that control and input in its future direction.

One concern is that all bar two of the recommendations have a six month or longer implementation time frame. But Red Tractor has insufficient resources to tackle them all at once. So, a pragmatic approach to prioritising reforms must be taken. BMPA would like to see a high priority given to harmonising assurance across England and the devolved nations to reduce layers of bureaucracy in the UK supply chain. We’d also like to whole life assurance as standard across the system to strengthen consumer confidence in our assurance schemes and UK product.

We would also place a high priority on continuing to establish a sustainability module. It’s still needed and will be increasingly demanded by consumers over the coming years. It’s a good opportunity for Red Tractor and farmers to align with the policies, priorities and financial incentives the new Labour government is putting in place.

Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA commented: “From my perspective there is much to commend in the recommendations and they are in line with much of what we have been saying for some time. If they are all taken on board and acted upon the industry and farm assurance would be in a much better place. Lets hope everyone embraces the proposals as quickly as possible.”