Monday 19th August 2024
Alistair Mackintosh, interim Chair at Red Tractor, has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cumbria Farming Awards, which took place on Friday 16 August. This accolade recognises Alistair’s unwavering dedication to British farming and his significant contributions to the region’s agricultural community over the years.
Not only is Alistair a leader at Red Tractor, but he is also a passionate beef, sheep and arable farmer in Cumbria with a long history of championing the farming industry. His previous roles include serving as the NFU’s livestock chairman and as a member of the NFU Council.
Since stepping into his role as interim Chair of Red Tractor last month, Alistair has made it his mission to strengthen relationships with farmers, growers, and processors. He has been actively engaging with the UK’s agricultural community at various agricultural shows, such as the Balmoral Show, Royal Highland Show, and National Sheep Event. His goal is to foster collaboration and improve communication with all stakeholders.
Alistair commented: “I am fortunate and humbled to have received this award. I am also proud to have worked with the highly professional teams at NFU and now Red Tractor. Together, we have been able to champion the best that UK Agriculture has to offer. My focus now as interim Chair of Red Tractor is ensuring our farmer members’ views are heard and enhancing their trust in Red Tractor through greater transparency and increasing audit efficiency.”
Alongside Alistair, the Red Tractor Board has outlined its commitment to making the assurance process fit for the future, with plans to utilise technology, streamline assessments and potentially reduce the frequency of visits for those with a track record of good compliance. He is also working closely with Red Tractor’s sector boards to develop a 5-10 year strategy aimed at simplifying standards and improving the overall experience for farmers and assessors.
Alistair continued: “By working collaboratively across the whole food supply chain I believe we can continue to ensure Red Tractor is one of the best schemes in the world, adding value for members and providing a competitive advantage for their produce.”
Alistair’s Lifetime Achievement Award was celebrated in a video featuring contributions from Mark Jenkinson MP, David Exwood, NFU Vice President, David Hall, NFU North Regional Director, and Jemma Holden, Red Tractor Beef & Lamb and Dairy Technical Manager.
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