The next steps for a comprehensive independent evaluation of the UK’s farm assurance schemes have been announced by the Commissioners of the recently launched UK Farm Assurance Review.

The project, jointly set up by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and AHDB, along with NFU Cymru, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) and NFU Scotland (NFUS), will focus on repurposing UK farm assurance for a post-Brexit world.

Dr David Llewellyn, the Lead Commissioner and former Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University, will be working with three other independent Commissioners including James Withers, ex-CEO of Scotland Food and Drink, Mark Suthern, the Chair of Trustees of the Farming Community Network, and a fourth Commissioner who will be announced shortly.

Together, the Commissioners have set the project’s areas for investigation, developed an engagement plan and established a timeline to ensure decisive outcomes for the industry.

Amongst other topics, the project will include an assessment of best practice and consideration of how methods of farm assurance can provide value to primary producers in a fast-changing environment and will provide an evaluation of the relationship between farm assurance and regulation.

Emphasising a requirement for comprehensiveness and openness, Dr Llewellyn said: “The programme of work, which will cover seven distinct stages, will be aimed at letting anyone, or any organisation, that wants to share their views on this important subject be able to do that, regardless of where they sit in the supply chain. The Commissioners welcome this engagement. 

"We expect to involve farmers and farmer organisations, policy makers, food processors, retailers and consumer groups, as well as relevant trade associations and representative bodies.  The work will go on until the end of the year, and periodic updates on progress will be issued to the farming and food community.

“We will be seeking contributions to the review over the next few months, via an online survey, submissions of evidence from representative bodies and, where required, interviews and online focus group discussions. We want to ensure that we understand what works, and what doesn’t work, with assurance systems, so as to recommend ways in which the operating environment for the farming industry can be improved.

“Our evidence gathering will also involve direct engagement by the Commissioners with stakeholders across the supply chain in a series of meetings being organised at agricultural shows and events over the summer."

The programme for these events, and other information about the review, can be found on the Commission’s website at: Farm Assurance Review latest updates | AHDB.