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06 Mar 2025

Fresh Produce Sector Chair Update – February 2025

The Fresh Produce Sector Board met in London on the 27th February. We began by introducing Andrew McCardy who joins the board representing Tesco, Barbara Bray who joins as the new chair of the Fresh Produce Technical Committee and Jo Miller who joins the Red Tractor team as Director of Communications and Engagement. 

Much of the agenda was dedicated to discussing the board members views on recommendations made in the Farm Assurance Review report. There was agreement from the Board that the report is positive and provides helpful suggestions that can assist in driving plans forward. There is a need to recognise sector differences and to consider retail audits and the requirement of assurance schemes to work more collectively with the wider industry to see how audit duplication can be further reduced. The thoughts and suggestions made from this Board have been collated. We will provide you with further details on this following the publication of the main AFS Board’s response on the 20th March. 

Philippa Wiltshire provided an update on Red Tractors progress against recommendations made in the Campbell Tickell report and there was a request from the Board that with the continued progress on this and Red Tractors response to the Farm Assurance review, our progress must be timely and clearly communicated to all stakeholders.  

The meeting reflected the Sector Boards ongoing commitment to ensuring there is balance between the needs of growers, consumers and retailers. The bBoard stressed the importance of ensuring this was safeguards when proceeding with our response to the Farm Assurance Review. 

Kind regards,

Lucy MacLennan,

Chair, Red Tractor Fresh Produce board

Fresh Produce board:

Sarah Blanford – Retailer

Veryan Bliss – Technical Consultant

Tim Casey – Grower and NFU

Jan Redpath – Grower and NFUS

Damon Johnson – Retailer, BRC

David Kennedy – Technical Consultant

Kelly Shields – Fresh Produce Consortium

Stephen Shields – Grower

James Lee – Grower

Phil Pearson – Grower

         Barbara Bray MBE – Independent Consultant

 

 

06 Mar 2025

Poultry Sector Chair Update – February 2025

The Poultry Sector Board meeting took place on the 24th February. During this meeting we were pleased to introduce two new members to the board, Patrick Hook who joins as the representative for the British Poultry Council and Keith Warner who is the integrator representative. They replaced Philip Wilkinson and David Neilson respectively.  More information about their roles can be found here

Much of the agenda was focused on a board discussion of the Farm Assurance Review report and we began by collecting the views and suggestions of each board member on the main recommendations identified by the review and came to agreements on next steps for planning for the future. We will provide you with further details on this following the publication of the main AFS Board’s response on the 20th March.

The next agenda item was a discussion on the future of Red Tractor’s work on applications of poultry litter. As reported after the November 2024 meeting the Sector Board recommended a discussion across the wider organisation and associated stakeholders The board were briefed on the discussions held at the AFS board meeting which agreed wider farming stakeholder views would be sought.   

Following the market move of retailers in the UK, the potential for a standard certifying a stocking density of 30kg/m2  was next on the agenda with the board requesting that the poultry Technical Advisory Committee identify the technical specifications that would be required to build a standard for meeting this on farm and throughout processing. The findings of this work will come back to the poultry board for further debate and consultation. 

As ever, thanks for your continued support of Red Tractor.  

Kind regards,

Iain Gardner,

Chair, Red Tractor Poultry Board

Poultry Board members:

Clay Burrows – QBT

James Mottershead – NFU

Gavin Foster – BPC

Philip Wilkinson OBE – BPC

David Neilson – Integrator

Tom Meeson – British Retail Consortium

Natalie Smith – Retailer

David Gibson – BPC

Jonty Hay – NFU

Judith Irons – TAC Chair

06 Mar 2025

Crops & Sugarbeet Sector Chair Update – February 2025

The Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Board welcomed James Mills, NFU Crops Vice Chairman and Northeast arable farmer replacing James Cox, Joe Brennan Head of Technical at UKFM, replacing Alistair Gale and Sarah Woolford, Sector Director at AHDB, replacing David Eudall.

At the board, I shared the likelihood of my being elected as Chair of NFU Sugar and in this instance I would step down from my Red Tractor positions. This has now come to pass and it is with a heavy heart that I will be stepping down from my role as a Red Tractor Sector Chair and a Director of the company. I am a huge supporter of Red Tractor and farm assurance and will continue to champion its vital role in British agriculture at all levels of the industry. As a farmer, responsible for several businesses, I am regrettably unable to commit to both roles.

The new chair will be joining a fantastic team with a real opportunity to create positive change in farm assurance. The search for my replacement is now underway. Red Tractor is seeking applications from across the sector and will recruit according to a robust nominations process. Please consider applying if you want to join the Red Tractor team in this crucial role: https://redtractorassurance.org.uk/careers-at-red-tractor/.The board is looking to fill the position by the next round of sector boards, which will take place in June.

The main item on the agenda was for the Sector Board to discuss and provide feedback on the Farm Assurance Review. The discussion was extensive, productive and positive and I am eager to share detailed insights from that meeting later this month. This will be included alongside the Main Board’s response, which I am actively contributing to still as a Director of Red Tractor. We also discussed how to sequester current work and projects to incorporate the recommendations from the review.

Finally, I’d like to thank the Sector Board and all the farmers I’ve had the pleasure to engage with during my time as Crops Chairman. Farm assurance is a vital component of the food chain and underpins consumer trust in UK food. I am also extremely grateful to have worked alongside many fantastic colleagues at Red Tractor, and I look forward to supporting farm assurance in my new role at NFU Sugar.

Best Wishes,  

Kit Papworth,

Chair, Combinable Crops and Sugarbeet Board. 

Members of the Crops board:

Angela Bowden – Oilseed Crushers  

Jamie Burrows – Cereals grower

James Mills – Cereals grower

Matthew Culley – Cereals grower

Julian South – MAGB

Patrick Mitton – Pesticide Issues Consultant

Brin Hughes – BOBMA

Tom Wood – AIC/Grain Merchants

Peter Chandley – Weetabix

Sarah Woolford – AHDB

Nick Morris – Sugar manufacturer

Joe Brennan – UK Flour Millers

Gill Barrow – AIC/Grain Merchants

Ed Dale – Sugar beet grower

Nigel Davies – TAC Chair

Harriette Roberts – BRC

04 Mar 2025

Kit Papworth to stand down as Red Tractor Crops Chair

KIT PAPWORTH TO STEP DOWN FROM RED TRACTOR CROPS BOARD FOLLOWING HIS ELECTION TO CHAIR OF NFU SUGAR BOARD

The Red Tractor Board is seeking applications for a new Crops Chair

4 March 2025: Kit Papworth has announced he will be stepping down from his role as Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Chair. This decision follows his election as chair of NFU Sugar.

Kit commented: “It is with a heavy heart that I will be stepping down from my role as a Red Tractor sector chair and a director of the company. I am a huge supporter of Red Tractor and farm assurance and will continue to champion its vital role in British agriculture at all levels of the industry. As a farmer, responsible for several businesses, I am regrettably unable to commit to both roles. The new chair will be joining a fantastic team with a real opportunity to create positive change in farm assurance.”
Alistair Mackintosh, Interim Chair of the Red Tractor Board commented: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to have Kit as chair of the sector board. He’s made a huge contribution to the development of Red Tractor’s programme, in particular through his open engagement with all stakeholders especially crops farmers. Kit has earnt the full support of the members of the Crops Board who are unanimously disappointed to see him step down. We wish Kit all the best in his new role and are grateful to him for his ongoing support for Red Tractor as we recruit a new crops chair.”
Kit will remain chair for the Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board for the immediate future and a clear, transparent recruitment process for his successor starts today.
The role of Red Tractor Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Chair is now advertised on the Red Tractor website, together with details of the appointment process as set out in Red Tractor’s governance procedures, which have been updated in light of the Cambell Tickell review.
The recruitment and appointment of the new sector board chair will be overseen by a subcommittee of the Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Board and the Red Tractor Board’s Nominations Committee.

26 Feb 2025

Celebrating two years of data governance certification

Celebrating two years of data governance certification

26 February 2025

We are thrilled to announce that we have reached two years of certification by the Farm Data Principles Scheme (FDP).

This achievement reflects our commitment to data integrity and innovation in agriculture. Over the past two years, we’ve worked hard to uphold the highest standards in farm data management, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and ethical use of data. This certification demonstrates our dedication to fostering a more efficient agricultural ecosystem through data.

Tracey Curran, Industry & Data Manager at Red Tractor said
“As we enter our second year of certification under the Farm Data Principles (FDP), we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of data security and integrity. This certification continues to reinforce our dedication to responsibly managing and protecting our members’ data.”

FDP is a respected authority in the agricultural sector, dedicated to promoting and verifying best practices in data handling. They perform checks and balances on each data handler statement to ensure that the organisation manages data in line with the data principles.

Red Tractor operates a range of data protection measures, such as limiting the use and storage of member data, encrypting and anonymising sensitive data, conducting regular data audits and reviews, and providing clear and transparent data policies and consents. These measures ensure that Red Tractor respects the privacy and confidentiality of its members and handles their data with the utmost care and responsibility.

As technology advances, Red Tractor will continue review and revise our security measures, providing farmers the reassurance that we will always protect their data.

The certificate provides additional reassurance to farmers and consumers across the UK. See all the Farm Data Principles certified organisations here.

 

14 Feb 2025

Mind Your Head 2025

This Valentines Day, take time to reach out to those around you and make the time to talk.

Picture of yellow hard hat next to text saying: "Mind Your Head"

14 February 2025

This week, we have been proudly  supporting the Farm Safety Foundations  8th annual Mind Your Head Campaign. The Farm Safety Foundation brings together over 400 farming organisations from across the UK to raise awareness and drive change around mental health within the industry.

 

This year, the campaign coincides with Valentines Day and therefore the theme is around resilience, positivity and love.  

2024 was an extremely challenging year for the agricultural industry, these additional pressures create a greater need for farm business owners and workers to take care of both their mental and physical health. Farming is a way of life and British farmers are proud to produce food to the highest standards all year long. This campaign wishes to remind the industry that although there are bad days, there will also be good days. In the more challenging times, there is help available and normalising the conversations around how we feel and proactively seeking support is to be encouraged. 

Lets break the stigma and start the conversation.💛

More information about the campaign can be found on the Yellow Wellies website

For more information and resources on support available to Red Tractor members, visit our support hub.

 

04 Feb 2025

Red Tractor Board Update – January 2025

As we step into 2025, i’d like to update you on discussions at the recent Red Tractor Board meeting and the work we are doing to deliver value for our farmer members and the wider supply chain.

Farm Assurance Review

The publication of the Independent Farm Assurance Review marks a significant moment for our industry. As the first review of its kind in 30 years, it provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the role of farm assurance in supporting British agriculture.

The Red Tractor Board is taking the time to carefully consider the findings and recommendations of the review. Over the coming weeks, we will be engaging with our Sector Boards, which include representatives from every stage of the food chain, to gather feedback and ensure that our response reflects the views of our members and stakeholders.

Championing British Farming 

I reported to the Board that Red Tractor’s commitment to supporting British agriculture has never been stronger. Last weekend, our award-winning TV campaign returned to screens, reminding shoppers to back British farming by looking for the Red Tractor logo. This follows our successful Christmas campaign, which reached over 16 million main shoppers and generated significant awareness of assured British produce during one of the most competitive times of the year for food brands.

The results speak for themselves: 17 million main shoppers now trust the Red Tractor logo, and our recent Trust in Food Index revealed that trust in UK food is higher than ever, surpassing even trust in the NHS. This is a testament to the hard work and high standards of our farmer members, and we will continue to champion your contributions at every opportunity, including in discussions with Government and industry leaders.

Looking Ahead 

As our resonse to the Farm Assurance Review is being developed, other work continues – from streamlining audits and improving the usability of the Red Tractor Portal to exploring new opportunities to support British exports, we are committed to ensuring that Red Tractor continues to deliver benefits for farmers and the wider supply chain.

Thank you, as always, for your support. Together, we can ensure that Red Tractor remains a trusted and valuable marque for British farming.

Best wishes,

Alistair Mackintosh, Red Tractor Interim Chair 

 

Red Tractor Board members:

  • David Exwood – Industry Director
  • Will Jackson – AHDB
  • Dean Holroyd – Industry Director
  • Sophie Throup – Industry Director
  • John Pain – Independent Director
  • Chris Goodwin – Independent Director
  • James Russell – Independent Director
  • John Reed – Industry Director
  • John Dracup – Beef & Lamb Sector Director
  • Tim Lock – Dairy Sector Director
  • Lucy MacLennan – Fresh Produce Sector Director
  • Stewart Houston CBE, FRAgS – Pig  Sector Director
  • Iain Gardner – Poultry Sector Director
  • Kit Papworth – Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Director
  • Jim Moseley – Chief Executive

Find out more about how decisions are made at Red Tractor. 

29 Jan 2025

RED TRACTOR APPOINTS JO MILLER AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT  

Senior communications professional Jo Miller has been appointed as Red Tractor’s Director of Communications & Member Engagement

 

29 January 2025:

Jo Miller joins Red Tractor with over 15 years of experience in public relations, stakeholder management, corporate communications, and digital content. She is a seasoned communications professional with a strong background in food assurance and multi-stakeholder issues, including sustainable fishing, climate change, food systems, and environmental management.  

Jo’s career includes nine years at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the international standards organisation for sustainable seafood, where she worked on global sustainability and supply chain issues. She joins Red Tractor from her role as a Senior Communications Consultant at SB+CO, working with major global brands such as McDonald’s, Beam Suntory, and Lego on their sustainability communications.

Red Tractor CEO Jim Moseley said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jo to Red Tractor’s leadership team. She brings a wealth of expertise in sustainability communications and stakeholder engagement, which will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our messaging and build trust across the food supply chain. Jo’s experience working on complex environmental and food system issues makes her ideally suited to help us promote the values of Red Tractor and the benefits it delivers to farmers, food businesses and consumers alike.”

Jo Miller said: “Red Tractor plays a vital role in ensuring that British food is produced to the highest standards of safety, welfare, and environmental protection – and communicating this value to consumers. I’m excited to join the team at such an important time for the sector and am looking forward to working with Red Tractor’s members and stakeholders to tell Red Tractor’s story and build trust in the label.”

Jo will join Red Tractor on Monday 10 February.

15 Jan 2025

British shoppers regain faith in UK food

New research finds trust in UK food at highest level for three years 

  • Trust in UK food has reached its highest level since 2021, following three years of falling confidence in food standards 
  • 75% of UK adults now say they trust food in the UK, up from 71% in 2023 
  • UK public now trusts UK food more than NHS care or water from the tap 
  • Findings form part of Red Tractor’s 4th “Trust in Food Index” – the UK’s most comprehensive survey of attitudes to food standards and quality 

The UK public is regaining confidence in the quality and standards of food in the UK, halting three years of declining trust after the pandemic and during the cost-of-living crisis. 

15 January 2025: 75% of UK adults now say they trust food in the UK, up from 71% in 2023, although still below the level of trust felt by shoppers in 2021 (81%). The figure rises to 91% when consumers are asked whether they trust food exclusively produced within the UK. 

Significantly, more people now say they trust UK food than NHS care, water from the tap, or any other core UK service or utility. Trust in NHS care has declined from 81% in 2021 to 70% today, while trust in water supplies has fallen from 81% to 73% over the same period. 

The higher level of trust in food is broad based, with rising confidence across all aspects of UK food production and assurance. 83% of adults now believe that food produced in the UK is safe [2023: 72%], 81% say it is good quality [2023: 73%], and 74% are confident that UK food is traceable through the supply chain [2023: 64%]. 

The findings, which draw on research from over 3,000 UK consumers, form part of Red Tractor’s annual “Trust in Food Index”. The Index was first produced in 2021 and is designed to provide the most comprehensive assessment of consumer attitudes to food in the UK. This year’s findings will give a boost to Britain’s battered food industry, after years of rising costs and higher prices for consumers during the cost-of-living crisis. 

As one survey respondent commented: 

“I think the UK and Europe have some of the strictest regulations on food and drink, from growing, transporting, storing, labelling and cooking. You do occasionally hear about recalls, but it’s fairly rare and only serves to show how seriously companies take food standards.” 

Role of Farmers crucial to improving confidence 

UK farmers have faced several years of significant challenges, including rising costs, severe weather events, poor harvests, and the prospect of rising taxes on the horizon. Despite this, the value farmers bring to UK food production is clear amongst consumers. 

85% of adults say they trust UK farmers, compared to just 9% of whom express distrust. Animal welfare remains the most important aspect of food production for UK consumers, and 72% of adults say UK farmers follow good animal welfare standards. 

Consumers continuing to rely on Food Assurance schemes for trust 

Food assurance and inspection schemes continue to play a vital role in providing trust in UK food production and are seen as more important than the government or food industry in ensuring high standards of food safety and quality. 

72% of adults said that assurance labels were a reason to trust food, and 77% said that labels showing where food comes from helps build trust. 

Meanwhile the importance of the Red Tractor logo when choosing food has risen to its highest level in the four years since the Trust in Food Index began. 58% of consumers say the Red Tractor logo is important to them when making choices on what food to buy, up from 51% in 2023. 

67% of consumers say they recognise the Red Tractor logo, with only the FairTrade (78%) and British Lion (69%) kitemarks gaining wider recognition. 

Jim Moseley, Chief Executive Officer of Red Tractor, said:

“The past four years have been brutal for almost everyone in the food industry – from farmers fighting to put food on our plates, through to shoppers battling against a cost-of-living crisis. Not since the foot and mouth crisis over 20 years ago has the UK food industry had so much to contend with. UK farmers have been at the forefront of this struggle, who have faced tougher weather, regulation and input costs to doing business. Yet, despite the extremely challenging environment, farmers’ continued efforts to work to some of the highest standards in the world has played a significant role in driving a resurgence of consumer trust in UK food. 

“In the past, after periods of pressure like this, we’ve seen trust in food fall as people have had to trade down to cheaper items or supermarkets. What our 2024 findings show is that this time, UK food has come through the storm. UK shoppers are incredibly confident in the standards of food produced and sold in the UK, trusting all UK-produced food at every price point in all supermarkets. Third-party assurance schemes and logos like the Red Tractor have proved crucial in driving this resurgence, showing shoppers a product has undergone rigorous checks before reaching the shelf. 

“It should be a source of huge pride to everyone involved in food production in the UK that food is now more trusted than water or any other basic service we rely on every day. At Red Tractor it is our job to continue to support the industry’s work and to communicate to millions of UK shoppers that assured British food is produced to some of the highest standards in the world.”

Professor Susan Jebb, Chair of the Food Standards Agency, said:

“The FSA’s mission is to ensure people can trust the food they eat is safe. Maintaining high standards from farm to fork is a crucial part of that.

The FSA has a well-established working relationship with Red Tractor, which is one of the FSA Approved Assurance schemes. We look forward to continuing to work in close collaboration with them to protect public health and ensure that people have food that they can trust. ”

About the research: YouGov polled 3,563 adults across a nationally representative sample. Fieldwork was conducted between 15th – 29th November 2024

13 Jan 2025

AHDB lead the search for a new Red Tractor Chair

Chair Recruitment Opportunity

AHDB is managing the recruitment process for the position of Chair at Red Tractor Assurance. This critical appointment comes at a pivotal time for both farm assurance and the UK food supply chain.

The Chair will provide input and guidance to the leadership and direction of Red Tractor Assurance, leading the Ownership Body and the Board during meetings, setting and agreeing on the business plan, annual objectives, and reviewing the CEO’s performance against these key criteria.

As a key figurehead within UK food and farming, the Chair will interact with Government, consumers, farmers, growers, food manufacturers, and all major food retailers and food service operators. The role requires a detailed understanding of the food supply chain while maintaining sufficient independence to be seen as neutral and objective by all stakeholders.

This appointment follows the publication of the Independent Commissioners Assurance Review and is essential in shaping the future of the organisation.


The Candidate

This pivotal position requires a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of the food supply chain and a genuine appreciation for its diverse stakeholders.

The Chair will bring proven experience in managing complex and varied stakeholder relationships. Demonstrate outstanding leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, and will have a strong grasp of Board dynamics, ensuring balanced and productive discussions.

The ability to unify perspectives across the food supply chain and ownership group will be instrumental in driving Red Tractor Assurance’s continued success. This role is ideally suited to an experienced Chair or Board member passionate about maintaining the highest standards in the industry.

For more information on this unique and exciting opportunity, please contact Anette Fink on info@edensearch.co.uk or 020 3795 7735.