Red Tractor suspends its Greener Farms Commitment
Farm assurance body Red Tractor has put its controversial plans for a new Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) on hold, pending an NFU-commissioned review of the organisation’s governance.
The voluntary GFC module is supposed to come into effect next April, providing a framework for farmers to share the environmental actions they are taking, so that retailers can demonstrate the sustainability of their supply chains.
But news of the plans in early October triggered an outcry from farmers, worried that the module would become compulsory, and angry that Red Tractor was offering such information to retailers for free.
The NFU has also been critical of the way the decision to introduce the new GFC was taken, in cahoots with the British Retail Consortium and with insufficient input from farmer representatives.
Last week the union announced two reviews of Red Tractor – the first looking at the assurance body’s governance (due in January 2024), and the second taking a broader look at the relevance and value of farm assurance schemes.
“It’s time for that to happen, so we can look at what works and what doesn’t,” said NFU president Minette Batters.
Philip Clarke | Farmers Weekly
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