Farm Assurance Review Sponsoring Group appoint Dr David Llewellyn to monitor progress on delivery of recommendations

Following the publication of the report of the UK Farm Assurance Review (UKFAR), an independent monitoring and reporting commissioner has been appointed to monitor progress on the delivery of its recommendations.

Dr David Llewellyn CBE will take up the position after leading the independent commission that produced the report in January.

Appointed by the Farm Assurance Review Sponsoring Group, which comprises the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the National Farmers' Union (NFU), along with NFU Cymru, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) and NFU Scotland (NFUS), Dr Llewellyn will shortly be inviting stakeholders identified in the report to submit their feedback on relevant recommendations and to set out their proposed actions for delivery.

The UK Farm Assurance Review has provided the industry with a considered and thorough understanding of the farm assurance system and the challenges it faces.

The Sponsoring Group is committed to the development of an assurance system that meets the needs of farmers, as well as the wider industry, but it is not for us alone to determine how the UKFAR recommendations are implemented.

The appointment of an independent monitoring and reporting commissioner will ensure there is transparency as the relevant parties consider and implement the changes required to help farm assurance work better for our members and levy payers.

As well as being responsible for facilitating discussions with stakeholders, over the next year Dr Llewellyn is tasked with ensuring actions are monitored through the publication of independent progress reports in the autumn of 2025 and spring of 2026.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Llewellyn said: "I am pleased that there will be an opportunity, over the next year, for progress in implementing the UKFAR recommendations to be formally assessed and publicly reported.

"My role will be to independently monitor and report on the actions of the organisations identified in the initial farm assurance report, but it will be for those organisations to participate fully, and transparently, in addressing the recommendations in order to contribute to the improvement of the UK's farm assurance system.

"I look forward to discussing progress to date with the nominated organisations over the next few months, in preparation for our first monitoring report later this year."