Message from Julian Sturdy, Chair of the Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Board
Dear Members,
The June meeting of the Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board focused heavily on the future shape of the scheme standards and how we ensure assurance continues to deliver value for growers while meeting the needs of markets and customers. We welcomed Robbie Dennis as the NFU Sugar representative and Andrew Williamson as the NFU Crops representative. Ken Boyns joined to represent AHDB.
The Board heard from new Red Tractor CEO, Paul McLaughlin, who set out a clear ambition for Red Tractor to be trusted by farmers, chosen by markets and understood by consumers, reinforcing the importance of sector autonomy and the role of the Sector Board in setting standards that the whole supply chain can stand behind.
Red Tractor Director of Communications, Jo Miller also shared findings from Red Tractor’s research programme, including the Trust in Food Index 2026, the Post Assessment Survey and the Farmer Sentiment Survey. The research reinforced the need to maintain public trust while responding to farmer feedback on audit experience, standards burden and the value Red Tractor delivers.
A clear direction for standards
The Board received a detailed update from TAC Chair, Alan King and Technical Manager, Annie Rogers on the TAC’s ongoing review of the standards. This work has involved a line-by-line review of the standards, with clear justification being added to explain why each requirement exists – whether it is linked to legislation, demonstrating due diligence, delivering food safety, customer requirements, market access, external scheme benchmarking or earned recognition. In practical terms, the standards have been streamlined. This includes a significant reduction in audit points, and clearer structure across the standards, making them easier to navigate and apply in practice.
Members of the crop board welcomed the TAC’s progress and recognised the significant time being invested by its members to review the standards. There was strong support for the work that has been done to reduce unnecessary burden where possible, improving clarity for growers and assessors and ensuring the new version of the standards signals the end of ‘mission creep’.
The sector board also discussed operational changes to the scheme, including investigating the time between audits and the consideration of risk-based assessments, which were widely supported as a practical way to improve the audit experience and focus attention where it adds most value. The TAC will continue to develop this work ahead of a further Board discussion in September.
How the scheme should be structured
A substantial part of the meeting considered the structure of Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Standards and an assurance framework was proposed and agreed along the lines of the structure outlined by the recently published AHDB and NFU scope and purpose of farm assurance. TAC work will continue to establish the balance of what standards are required for what purpose.
The discussion showed broad agreement that Red Tractor must remain practical and understandable for growers, while continuing to protect market access and customer confidence. Members across the supply chain were clear that any future structure must be simple and avoid unnecessary complexity and should not create additional costs in the supply chain.
Imported grain
Ken Boyns shared an update on AHBD’s benchmarking work comparing UK farm assurance schemes with international suppliers of grain into the UK. AHDB expects to publish its work in the autumn.
The Board remains clear that evidence on import requirements is essential if farmers, customers and policy makers are to have constructive discussions about the standards expected of UK growers.
Next steps
The sector board asked the TAC to prioritise more work on standards justification, review the audit cycle and process and to clarify which standards are applicable to which crops and markets. This work will aid a discussion on a final structure to be considered at a special Sector Board meeting in September. Members also asked that relevant external stakeholders, including the FSA where appropriate, are invited to clarify where their requirements impact the standards.
Best wishes,
Julian Sturdy
Chair, Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board
Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board members:
Julian Sturdy – Chair
- Alan King – TAC Chair
- Angela Bowden – Oilseed Crushers
- Jamie Burrows – Cereals grower
- Andrew Williamson – Cereals grower
- Matthew Culley – Cereals grower
- Julian South – MAGB
- Patrick Milton – Pesticide Issues Consultant
- Brin Hughes – BOBMA
- Jonathan Lane – AIC/Grain Merchants
- Peter Chandley – Weetabix
- Ken Boyns – AHDB (June meeting only)
- Nick Morris – Sugar manufacturer
- Joe Brennan – UK Flour Millers
- Gill Barrow – AIS/Schemes
- Harriette Roberts – BRC
- Robbie Dennis – NFU Sugar
- Andrew Williamson – NFU Crops