No need reinvent assurance wheel, Red Tractor tells government

The UK's largest farm assurance body has told the government that there is no need to "reinvent the assurance wheel" once the UK leaves the EU.

Red Tractor, which consists of more than 60,000 members, said the body is already the "foundation stone of British agriculture", which sits independently as an authority in the UK.

It has urged the government to ensure food production is at the forefront of any future agricultural policy, rather than placing too much emphasis on other significant - but less critical - objectives, such as the environment and animal welfare.

In its response to the government's Command Paper 'Health and Harmony', the assurance body urges the promotion of food production at the forefront of future agricultural policy - and reminds it of its position as a "flagship for British food and farming".

The plea follows similar comments made by the Countryside Alliance, who last week said that food production and competitive farming should not be overlooked in any future farming policy.

“It is the demand for food, both in the UK and around the globe, that should shape and drive this industry and future policy needs to reflect that,” said Jim Moseley CEO of Red Tractor Assurance.

“Government should be putting more resource and focus behind British agriculture to transform it into a growth industry that takes a greater share of the domestic market and exploits new export opportunities where the strengths of produce produced here are really valued.”

'Re-invent'

Mr Moseley said that the assurance body is uniquely positioned to be the flagship for British food and farming. He said that is Red Tractor’s primary objective.

He urged caution over placing too much emphasis on other significant - but less critical - objectives of the Health and Harmony paper.

“There is, for example, a sharp focus on animal welfare and environmental sustainability in the paper and while these are two great strengths of our industry, policy that encourages higher standards still may result in British agriculture becoming a niche player in the global food market,” Mr Moseley explained.

“Red Tractor is already the foundation stone of British agriculture sitting independently as an authority in the UK and the world over. Our response has reminded Government that as the largest and most comprehensive assurance scheme in the UK, there is no organisation better placed to deliver practical and robust performance metrics against the Health and Harmony vision. There is no need to re-invent the assurance wheel.”