Following the biggest industry-wide consultation in the scheme’s history, Red Tractor has agreed changes to its new set of farm standards. The assurance body reviews its standards every three or four years, in an ongoing effort to ensure farmers are meeting the ever-changing expectations of the consumer.
In a first, this year Red Tractor opened the process to its 46,000 members. Over the past twelve months, the proposals were put before the food and farming industry and drawn up with input at every stage from all key stakeholders including farmers, processors, retailers and vets.
Responding to the announcement, NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts said: “It has never been more important for British agriculture to be in tune with the public. Following feedback from the NFU and farmer and grower licensees, Red Tractor has developed the right standards to progress our industry, while balancing the needs of farmers with the evolving demands of shoppers and the supply chain.”
Red Tractor said the process adheres to the gold standard recommendations of the British Standards Institute – committee, consultation and consensus.
Nfuonline.com quoted Red Tractor CEO Jim Moseley as saying: “We set out to hear from and to engage with as much of the farming community as possible, and I’m delighted by the amount of feedback that was generated by the review. This has been enormously helpful for informing the work to finalise the finalise the new version of the standards.”
