Farm assurance report highlights positive signs but more to do

There is mixed progress being made around modernising farm assurance, with some schemes and organisations making more encouraging strides forward than others.

That was one of the key messages as the UK Farm Assurance Review (UKFAR) concluded the initial stage of a post-review monitoring exercise with the publication of the first of its monitoring reports.

The review was commissioned by the UK’s national farming unions and the AHDB following criticism by farmers and growers of assurance bodies including the Red Tractor and Sedex. Producers felt assurance bodies were taking decisions unilaterally without sufficient consultation, and pushed for a root-and-branch review of the way schemes are run.

The UKFAR has been conducted independently with support from Promar International, and is led by monitoring and reporting commissioner Dr David Llewellyn. Its initial review made nine strategic recommendations based around simplifying and reducing on-farm audits, improving communication with farmers, embracing technology, and better collaboration between assurance schemes, among other things.

The new monitoring report provides an update on actions taken by organisations tasked to implement the 56 operational UKFAR recommendations, focussing on those with a six-month delivery timescale. Recommendations with a longer timescale are also included.

The evidence provided to the monitoring exercise was gathered from a survey of participating organisations, 40 of which submitted their statements of progress and other comments relating to the review. The survey included the 12 farm assurance schemes included in the original UKFAR Report, as well as UK government departments, industry regulators and food chain organisations.

Some progress, but a way to go

The report notes that progress in addressing the UKFAR recommendations is being made, not least by the farm assurance schemes. It is, however, somewhat variable, and largely dependent on the starting position of the scheme.

It was evident from the submissions that certain schemes were well advanced in meeting the recommendations, while some had more to do, the report noted. There were also positive signs from other organisations, with the farming unions and AHDB taking on additional tasks to help deliver specific recommendations and work being undertaken by sector regulatory agencies and the Welsh Government as particular examples.

“It was a natural step for the sponsoring bodies of the UK Farm Assurance Review to wish to understand how the recommendations in the Commission’s report were being Implemented,” said Llewellyn. “Not only were there a substantial number, but they pointed to a complex operating environment for farm assurance with many participating organisations and varying interests in the assurance process. It was also clear that in seeking to effect change in the system, a degree of momentum would need to be maintained.

“Disappointingly, other government bodies have not yet been as engaged as might have been wished. It remains to be seen, in the second monitoring round next year, whether they will play their part in driving improvements in the farm assurance system that could, in turn, assist with the development of government farming and food policies.”

Llewellyn stressed that while progress is being made, there remain further areas for improvement. The report highlights, for example, some of the more challenging issues identified by the review where early work has started, but where effective collaboration across the industry will be required to deliver improvements to the farm assurance system.

“Of course, the acid test for all of this is whether the farming industry will see, in time, any difference on the ground – in the procedures associated with farm audits, in the information and communications they receive from farm assurance schemes and industry regulators and in the lessening of the overall burden associated with the current farm assurance system,” Llewellyn said.

“In some instances this may take longer than originally anticipated in the original UKFAR report, but the monitoring round has, at least, identified a willingness amongst many of those operating the system to consider these issues and to take steps to address them.”

A second monitoring report is expected to be published in the Spring of 2026 to provide a further update. 

Red Tractor highlights progress

In response, Red Tractor chair Alistair Mackintosh stressed that the report highlights the assurance body’s progress and commitment to delivering tangible change for farmers. “Since welcoming the recommendations in the review, Red Tractor has increased transparency around decision‑making, formalised the process for setting standards and delivered improvements to the Red Tractor portal,” he said.

“We’re also revamping our communications and exploring ways to reduce audit burden through technology and streamlining standards. This work focuses on delivering value and improving how assurance works for farmers, but it will take time. Farmer representatives on our sector boards have been involved at every stage, helping shape reforms that aim to deliver greater value to members.

“They are integral to Red Tractor, and I look forward to continuing to work with them and with stakeholders across the industry and supply chains through the upcoming standards review to ensure our requirements are robust, practical and meet consumer expectations.”