Red Tractor farm assurance has never been more important to the UK dairy industry, the organisation’s sector chairman said amid possibility of cheaper imports post-Brexit.
Angela Rhodes said the logo sets a product apart from its competition, telling consumers that it has been produced in the UK to strict standards covering traceability, food safety and animal welfare.
The volume of cheap imported dairy products could increase post Brexit, she added, meaning that it is vital farm-assured food stands out on the shelves.
Speaking at the UK Dairy Day in Telford, the Warwickshire farmer said: “We can’t expect consumers to simply continue to buy our product when given more choice and cheaper alternatives. There has to be a compelling reason to choose something that is UK produced.
“With the Red Tractor scheme we have a ready-made solution. The robust standards tell people where their food came from and how it has been produced.”
Defra Secretary Michael Gove has previously said that leaving the European Union could provide British consumers with cheap food as a result of trade deals with emerging nations.
13 billion litres
But Red Tractor is keen to show off its credentials in the face of cheap imports.
As the UK’s largest farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor assures more than 13 billion litres of milk produced in the UK from about 11,500 businesses.
Only products that have been assured right the way through the supply chain from farm to pack are able to carry the logo.
Mrs Rhodes said it was Red Tractor Assurance’s ambition to continue to grow consumer recognition of the logo so more domestic consumers actively sourced assured food.
“Our research shows that about two-thirds of consumers recognise the logo but only half can explain what it stands for and we want to improve that.
“As we move towards and beyond Brexit, one of the keys to success will be ensuring stronger consumer support.”
The UK exported 163,000 tonnes of cheese and nearly 40,000 tonnes of butter in 2016, and Mrs Rhodes said that she hoped that the work put in to developing the assurance scheme over the past 20 years would help sell UK produced food across the world.
“The UK’s trading partners need assurances that the product they are buying meets certain standards and I hope that our farm assurance scheme can be something that negotiators can hang their hat on.”
