Red Tractor board update March 2025

The Red Tractor Board met on 14 March to discuss both our response to the Independent Farm Assurance Review (FAR) and our priorities for the year ahead. Alongside this, we addressed the key challenges facing our farmer members and the wider supply chain, including the government’s decision to discontinue the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI). 

This meeting was also the last for two exceptional Board members, Sophie Throup and Kit Papworth. Sophie’s commitment and insight have been invaluable during her time on the Board, and Kit’s leadership of the Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Sector has helped Red Tractor drive meaningful progress. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank them both for their service and wish them success in their new roles.

Supporting farmers and delivering positive, tangible change

Much of the meeting focused on the Board’s response to the FAR. This response was published on 25 March. Board members were unanimous in acknowledging the deep frustrations many farmers have expressed about Red Tractor’s role and farm assurance schemes in general. While the FAR recognises the benefits of assurance and describes it as a “significant asset”  it also tells us that we must work harder to deliver meaningful changes for farmers.

We know there is a substantial disconnect between our purpose to deliver value to British food and farmers experience of the practical implementation on farm. Farming is changing rapidly, and assurance must evolve too – guided by the needs of farmers and the realities of the modern supply chain.

Our focus now is on rebuilding trust with farmers and delivering a system that balances the need for robust standards with more practical and farmer-friendly processes. The Board has developed a detailed action plan to address the nine strategic and 56 detailed recommendations set out in the FAR. Many of these recommendations require collaboration across the industry, and we are committed to delivering real progress.

Addressing the government’s SFI decision

The government’s unexpected decision to discontinue SFI applications has been a real blow for farmers in England. It’s a decision that undermines long-term planning and investment for farm businesses and Red Tractor has fed this back to Defra in no uncertain terms.   

As part of our commitment to supporting farmers, Red Tractor will continue to advocate for stability and clarity in agricultural policy. We will also work with industry bodies to explore ways to address this gap and ensure that assurance continues to support sustainable farming practices.

2025/26 Business Plan: Red Tractor’s key priorities

The Board approved our 2025/26 Business Plan and budget, which prioritise:

• Rebuilding farmer trust by strengthening engagement and addressing concerns raised in the FAR.
• Delivering the FAR recommendations to improve operational efficiency with a sharp focus on reducing the audit burden.
• Using Red Tractor to support farmers’ competitiveness, grow consumer loyalty in the UK, and facilitate export growth in an increasingly global market.

Engaging with you

Your input remains vital to helping us shape the future of assurance. I’d like to invite you to join me for our upcoming webinar on Monday, 28 April, at 7pm, where we’ll discuss our response to the FAR in greater detail and outline the steps we’ll take to deliver positive change. You can register for the webinar. A recording will also be available for those unable to join.

In addition, we’ll be hosting a series of in-person events over the coming months to share updates on our plans and to hear your feedback on the issues that matter most to you. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Thank you again for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to producing high-quality, assured food. Together, we can ensure that the Red Tractor scheme continues to deliver meaningful benefits for farmers, consumers, and the entire food supply chain.