Red Tractor has encouraged farmers to engage with it on a consultation process aimed to streamline the body’s food and farming standards.

A consultation was launched with proposals put forward on how the standards should look across the scheme’s six sectors: beef and lamb; poultry; pigs; dairy; fresh produce and combinable crops; and sugar beet.

CEO Jim Moseley said: “We are a proven world leader in food chain assurance, but we cannot rest on our laurels.

Red Tractor is recognised as a symbol of British food quality but to maintain this, our standards must continue to evolve with the times, to ensure they address changes in legislation, industry practice and reflect the emerging issues on shoppers’ minds.

“At a time of ever-increasing scrutiny, preserving the public’s trust in UK agriculture and the Red Tractor logo has never been more important.”

Farmers have been an intrinsic part of the process

Moseley added: “Farmers have been an intrinsic part of the process in drawing up the proposed new standards, but now it is over to the membership and stakeholders to have their say.

Red Tractor was created to become a symbol of trust, safety and responsible production. 20 years on, our purpose remains the same and we are absolutely delivering on it.

“Millions of shoppers look for the Tractor when they are buying food and drink.

“Consumer trust has never been higher, making us the most trusted food marque in the UK.”