News


Red Tractor asks farmers to help shape the future


• New standards across three key areas • Farmers invited to help decide how • Proposals ‘mainly about streamlining’


F


armers are being urged to have their say on the future of the Red Tractor assurance scheme – and its standards across the arable and live- stock sectors. Assurance scheme bosses are look-


ing to revise standards across three main areas. They are seeking input from across the industry before decid- ing how those standards will be imple- mented from November 2021. Red Tractor chief executive Jim Mo- seley said the Red Tractor was recog- nised as a symbol of British food qual- ity. But scheme standards needed to evolve with the times to refl ect chang- es in legislation, industry practice and emerging issues on shoppers’ minds.


Public trust “We are a proven world leader in food chain assurance, but we cannot rest on our laurels,” said Mr Moseley. “At a time of ever-increasing scrutiny, preserving the public’s trust in UK agriculture and the Red Tractor logo has never been more important.” Planned changes cover the scheme’s six sectors: beef and lamb, poultry, pigs, dairy, fresh produce, and combinable crops and sugar beet. They have been developed over 12 months with involve- ment from farmers, vets, processors and retailers (see panel).


The proposals are primarily about


streamlining, legislative compli- ance and responding to change. They include simplifying some requirements for farmers around compliance – as well as rationalis- ing standards which are common across multiple sectors.


Delicate balance


“These proposals strive to strike a delicate balance which protects and promotes our members, reas- sures consumers and customers, while acknowledges the implications of the challenges that the industry faces with future trade deals and the agri- cultural transition plan.” Mr Moseley said Red Tractor had lis- tened to British consumers and recom- mendations made in a 2019 review of the scheme. It had found limitations in current standards around animal and


Proposed changes


• Animal Welfare: Including housing structure and cleanliness – and what is acceptable when handling animals.


• Worker Welfare: Improving health and safety at work – and helping to ensure the wellbeing of workers on farm.


• Environmental Protection: The inclusion of farming rules for water to to reduce soil erosion and nutrient run-off .


worker welfare and environmental protection. Red Tractor was the most trust- ed food marque in the UK, added Mr


Standards must meet consumer demands and expectations, says Jim Moseley


Moseley. “Farmers have been an intrin- sic part of the process in drawing up the proposed new standards, but now it is over to the membership and stakehold- ers to have their say.” NFU deputy president Stuart Rob-


erts said: “The NFU is calling for all farmer and grower members to contrib- ute to the Red Tractor standards con- sultation to ensure they have their say. It’s vital that farmers voice their opin- ion and continue to infl uence the con- tinuing standard of assurance.” He added: “Now more than ever, we need to ensure that our standards on food, whether for animal welfare, food safety or environmental protec- tion, meet the needs of both farmers and the public.” The consultation and review closes on 5 March 2021. For full details, visit bit.ly/RedTractor2021


New chairman for Voluntary Initiative


Leicestershire farmer Phil Jarvis has been ap- pointed chairman of the Voluntary Initiative – the organisation which works to encourage the responsible use of pesticides. Mr Jarvis is farm manager at the Game and


Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Allerton Project. He farms 800ha of winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter/spring oats and winter/spring beans


4 MIDLAND FARMER • FEBRUARY 2021


in a joint venture with his neighbour. With 30 years of experience in the industry,


Mr Jarvis also chairs the NFU’s environment forum. He said: “I’m looking for solutions to challenges, removing barriers that will encour- age more collaboration and promote practices that ensure both our farming and environment prosper.”


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