The UK Farm Assurance Review (UKFAR) has concluded the initial stage of a post-review monitoring exercise with the publication of its first monitoring report. This stage of the UKFAR process was again commissioned by the UK national farming unions (NFUs) and the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and it was conducted independently by the Monitoring and Reporting Commissioner, Dr. David Llewellyn.
The report provides an update on actions taken by organizations tasked with implementing the 56 operational UKFAR recommendations, focusing on those with a six-month delivery timescale. Recommendations with a longer timescale are also included. Evidence for the monitoring exercise was gathered through a survey of participating organizations, 40 of which submitted statements of progress and additional comments relating to the Review. The survey included the 12 farm assurance schemes covered in the original UKFAR report, as well as UK government departments, industry regulators, and food chain organizations, offering a broad view of the actions taken across the sector.
The report notes that progress in addressing the UKFAR recommendations is being made, particularly by the farm assurance schemes. However, the level of progress varies depending on each scheme's starting position. Some schemes were found to be well advanced in meeting the recommendations, while others had more work to do. Positive signs were also observed from other organizations, including the NFUs and AHDB, which have taken on additional tasks to help deliver specific recommendations. Sector regulatory agencies and the Welsh Government were also highlighted for their contributions.
Dr. Llewellyn commented that it was a natural step for the sponsoring bodies of the UK Farm Assurance Review to wish to understand how the recommendations in the Commission's report were being implemented. He noted that the recommendations were substantial and pointed to a complex operating environment for farm assurance, involving many participating organizations with varying interests in the process. To effect meaningful change, he said, maintaining momentum was essential.
"We opened up the monitoring exercise with introductory discussions with the organizations identified in the Review's recommendations to explain what the monitoring round sought to achieve, the information we required, and how they could participate," Dr. Llewellyn said. "The fact that 40 organizations made contributions to this report is a sign that there is a commitment to change the nature and delivery of farm assurance and to reaffirm the position of the farming community as a key part of the farm assurance system."
He also noted, "Disappointingly, other government bodies have not yet been as engaged as might have been wished. It remains to be seen, in the second monitoring round next year, whether they will play their part in driving improvements in the farm assurance system that could, in turn, assist with the development of government farming and food policies."
Dr. Llewellyn acknowledged that, while progress is being made, more work remains. "The report highlights, for example, some of the more challenging issues identified by the Review where early work has started, but where effective collaboration across the industry will be required to deliver improvements to the farm assurance system," he explained.
He added that the ultimate test of progress will be whether the farming industry experiences tangible improvements — in audit procedures, in communications from assurance schemes and regulators, and in a reduction of the overall administrative burden. "In some instances, this may take longer than originally anticipated in the UKFAR report," he said, "but the monitoring round has, at least, identified a willingness amongst many of those operating the system to consider these issues and to take steps to address them."
A second monitoring report is expected to be published in the spring of 2026 to provide a further update on progress.
Learn more at the link here.
For more information:
Promar
https://promar-international.com/
