The UK farm assurance system is undergoing reform, but the issues causing the greatest frustration among farmers remain unresolved, with concerns persisting over audit burdens, imported products produced to lower standards, environmental reporting requirements and limited government engagement.
Those findings emerge from the second monitoring report of the UK Farm Assurance Review (UKFAR), which assessed progress against 56 recommendations issued in January 2025. Based on evidence submitted by 33 organisations, the report found that progress across the sector is continuing, although implementation remains uneven.
The four UK farming unions said improvements have been made but warned that several recommendations still require action.
“Our organisations continue to work hard on multiple aspects of the report’s recommendations to ensure Britain’s farmers and growers have a greater voice in the development of farm assurance standards.
“Although good progress has been made, several areas highlighted within the report still require urgent action.”
The monitoring report identifies reform of the combinable crops sector as one of two areas where progress remains significantly behind expectations.
According to the report, many growers continue to question the value of assurance schemes, arguing that assured status is not sufficiently recognised beyond the farm gate and often provides little commercial return. Farmers have also raised concerns that imported products produced under lower standards can compete against UK-grown produce.
The report notes that there remains a strong view within the sector that UK farmers do not compete on a level playing field with imports and that the benefits generated through assurance are lost further along the supply chain. Research being undertaken by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), together with work involving Red Tractor’s Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Board and its Technical Advisory Committee, is expected to contribute to addressing those concerns.
The farming unions said: “Issues within the combinable crops sector also need to be addressed with structural changes urgently needed to abandon the one-size-fits-all approach and lift the unsustainable audit burden on our growers.”
Environmental measurement was identified as another area requiring further work.
The monitoring report said there is still no agreed industry-led approach to environmental measurement outside the farm assurance system. It described a gap that is being filled by various organisations across the agri-food sector through differing initiatives and reporting requirements.
The report reiterated that farm assurance schemes were not intended to become the primary mechanism for environmental measurement. Instead, farming organisations, regulators and governments were urged to develop an approach that takes account of devolved environmental legislation, reporting requirements and the relationship between environmental data and other parts of the food supply chain. Discussions led by AHDB have indicated support for using existing structures rather than creating a new body, with further progress expected within the next six to 12 months.
The unions said: “On environmental measurement, we must reach a consensus around an industry-led approach and ensure reporting has a clear purpose, provides genuine value, and involves farmers and growers from day one.”
The report also pointed to differing levels of engagement from governments across the UK.
While farm assurance schemes in the devolved nations reported dialogue with their respective administrations, the report said the position with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was less clear. It described the department’s participation in the review process as a “missed opportunity” and noted that better coordination of farm assurance policy across UK governments has yet to materialise.
The report stated that farm assurance could contribute to future policy development and earned recognition initiatives, but said greater coordination between governments had not yet emerged.
“The government also needs to urgently step up and recognise the value of farm assurance and its role in providing high quality, British food,” the farming unions said. “It must ensure that our farmers and growers are not unfairly forced to compete with imported products that would be illegal to produce here, and establish the fair, transparent marketplace our farmers and growers deserve.”
Despite the unresolved issues, the report said many organisations have continued implementing changes across the farm assurance system.
It cited progress in areas including governance, standards development, communication and audit processes. Red Tractor welcomed the report's findings, noting that over the past 14 months it has introduced technology intended to reduce audit burdens, begun a review of standards across all sectors, expanded collaboration with other assurance schemes to reduce duplicate audits and updated its communications with farmers. The organisation also reported improvements to its Member Portal, integration with farm management software and work with certification bodies to improve audit consistency and assessor training.
Red Tractor chair Alistair Mackintosh said the organisation remains committed to a more transparent approach and to delivering a scheme that is trusted and valued by farmers, growers, the supply chain, buyers and consumers.
The report concluded that the UKFAR has acted as a catalyst for change, although schemes remain at different stages of implementation and further work is required before all recommendations are delivered.
Alongside the monitoring report, a joint paper examining the purpose and scope of farm assurance has also been prepared. The document seeks to distinguish between different levels of assurance and promote schemes that are proportionate and practical for farmers while delivering value throughout the supply chain.
The farming unions said: “This review marks a vital reset moment to build a modern assurance framework fit for purpose and the four UK farming unions remain committed to the important role assurance plays in underpinning the safety, traceability and quality of food produced on British farms.”
The monitoring process will continue to be published openly as organisations work through the remaining recommendations and reforms across the UK farm assurance system.
