Farm Assurance Review update

Thirty representatives from AHDB, the NFUs and assurance schemes from multiple sectors across the UK met on 29 May in London to discuss recommendations from the Farm Assurance Review (FAR) that require collaborative action.

All are committed to making sure assurance schemes deliver the most benefits for the least cost for all.

Communication of benefits, including the impacts of not having assurance schemes, needs to be improved in some sectors and assurance needs to be as simple as possible.

The agenda included the need to clearly state the purpose and scope of farm assurance so benefits are clearer, ways to enhance the use of data and technology in assurance audits, options to enhance collaboration and cooperation between schemes, and earned recognition.

Work has begun and will be progressed on a bilateral basis; some actions will require more collective action.

Participants agreed on the need to continue dialogue and make progress, which will be reported on independently by FAR monitoring Commissioner David Llewellyn in the autumn and in early 2026.