AHDB would like to make clear its position regarding annual funding provided to Red Tractor.

AHDB first agreed to put levy funding into Red Tractor following an industry consultation in 2008, which backed the development of a comprehensive food quality assurance scheme to consolidate farm audits and the development of a single label as the manifestation of trusted production standards.

The AHDB board decided it was no longer appropriate to provide this annual seed corn funding as Red Tractor is financially established and self-sustaining.

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This decision has taken effect from this financial year however Red Tractor has been informed that future funding could be provided if specific projects were identified that would be to the benefit of levy payers.

AHDB Chair Nicholas Saphir said: “It remains AHDB’s clear position that farm assurance is necessary and important to farming success, as a consumer benchmark (or ‘kite mark’) denoting safety, quality and provenance and/or in helping farmers achieve premium prices where food is produced to particular standards which customers and consumers attach additional value.

“Red Tractor is now well established and it no longer requires AHDB’s basic annual financial support. However, AHDB has informed Red Tractor that it would continue to consider providing funds for specific work or projects that are deemed to add demonstrable value to levy payers or help levy payers to reach agreed standards.

“In addition, where there are issues, AHDB will continue to ask the tough questions and use its independence and evidence-based approach to facilitate the finding of solutions between Red Tractor and its’ stakeholders.

“For example, AHDB has been raising questions and encouraging parties to come together over the current levy payer concern around grain imports and whether the controls in place for imported grain provide the same levels of assurance and clarity as those of Red Tractor for English product.

“Work on this issue is continuing and it remains a very high priority for some of our cereals levy payers.

“We have written to Red Tractor, following feedback from levy payers on our sector councils who raised a number of points which match views being expressed from some of the wider industry, including:

• A perceived lack of clarity and understanding by consumers, some stakeholders, levy payers and the industry of the role of Red Tractor and whether it is a robust baseline assurance scheme or a marketing opportunity to achieve a premium, or both, and if both, whether that is possible without multiple levels of standards?
• Strong and widespread support for a baseline assurance scheme but concerns about the effectiveness of the current assurance process, the relevance and value of some of the existing standards and a perception that there is some inconsistency in their application.
• Conflicting views on whether the marketing of Red Tractor is effective in defending the market and/or achieving a premium?
• A desire to have a baseline that is the same as imported products and for higher standards over that baseline to be rewarded with a premium. There is concern that some producers are forced to operate at higher standards than needed for the markets they serve and are getting no premium for doing so.

Nicholas added: “The industry is about to experience a period of considerable change and it is AHDB’s absolute determination to ensure that we are spending levy payers’ money in ways that deliver value by supporting them in successfully and profitably facing the future.

“Currently we are asking levy payers to register to have their say in the Shape the Future next spring, when we will be consulting directly on our own proposed future activities and programmes.”

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker agreed with the decision saying: “While NSA is a strong supporter of the principle of farm assurance in order to demonstrate the sector’s credentials to the market place, and has also supported Red Tractor Assurance for many years, NSA is in agreement with this decision made by AHDB.
 
“For lamb producers it is questionable that all levy payers should contribute financially to one assurance/branding scheme when only circa 40% to 50% are actually members of it. It is also right to point out that there are other British assurance and certification schemes that have never enjoyed levy support.”
 
With AHDB now inviting its levy payers to register to have a say in how their funds are spent NSA is keen to show its support for the consultation. Mr Stocker continues: “NSA appreciates the changes that AHDB is going through and considers it essential the levy board comes through this process of change with a full review of its activities and expenditure, including levy payer input, as they have planned for Spring 2022. NSA would like to encourage all sheep farmers who pay the levy to register to vote on this now and be prepared to take part when the vote opens in the Spring.” 
 
Details on how to register for the levy vote can be found here.