A review of farm to fork assurance schemes across the industry is currently underway. The independent review has been jointly commissioned by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and AHDB, along with NFU Cymru, The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) and NFU Scotland (NFUS), who will all form part of the Assurance Review leadership group, which has overall responsibility for its delivery.
The industry-wide Assurance Review is focused on repurposing assurance in a post-Brexit world.
It aims to seek feedback from all farmers, crofters and growers about all farm assurance schemes with a view to revolutionising farm to fork assurance, making it truly fit for the future.
The review will examine:
- How farm assurance can deliver value back to scheme members
- How standards are developed to meet the evolving needs of members, the markets they serve, sector diversity and in appreciation of the global marketplace
- How assurance members are engaged with (including the development of standards), inspected and how technology is used in assurance now and in future
- How assurance schemes can and should fit with regulation and government schemes to best serve members
The group has four commissioners who will be responsible for setting the terms of reference and a timeline to ensure the process provides clear outcomes to the industry.
Three commissioners have now been appointed to undertake the review and they are:
- Dr David Llewellyn CBE (lead commissioner) – former Vice Chancellor of Harper Adams University
- James Withers – former Chief Executive Officer of Scotland Food and Drink
- Mark Suthern – Chairman of Trustees of the Farming Community Network (FCN)
A fourth commissioner will be confirmed in due course.
Mark Suthern – Commissioner
We go live with Mark Suthern to discuss in more detail:
- The objectives of the FAR
- Why it was commissioned
- The role of the 4 Commissioners
- How it is Independent, inclusive and transparent as well as the timing of the Review.
Mark previously worked for Barclays Plc for 35 years and was Managing Director & National Head of Agriculture and focused on Farming, Landed Estates, Agri-Tech and Sustainability Energy & Environment. He now has a portfolio of roles including: –
- Chair and Trustee of Farming Community Network (FCN)
- Non-Executive member of the Rural Payments Agency Advisory Management Board and Audit & Risk Assurance Committee
- Non-Executive Director at the Environment Agency (sitting on the following boards – Environment & Business, Flood and Coastal Risk Management and Audit & Risk Assurance Committee
- Member of DEFRA Farming Innovation Programme Strategy Group
- Independent Commissioner for the UK Farm Assurance Review (AHDB,NFU et al)
- Chair and external Advisor of FixOurFood – (University of York)
- Trustee and Vice Chair of the Institute of Agricultural Management
- Co-Chaired – Green Finance Institute – Finance for Farming Report
- Organiser – St Georges House Windsor Castle – Farming Consultations
- Lay-Canon and Vice Chair of the Chapter at Lincoln Cathedral
Mark is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Professional Fellow of IAGRM, Associate of Royal Agricultural Societies and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
To see the Broadcast, just click on the picture below.
Filmed 31st July 2024 To participate in the survey, CLICK THIS LINK