The Ownership Body of Assured Food Standards (AFS), responsible for the Red Tractor food assurance programme, has announced the appointment of Alistair Mackintosh as chair of the AFS board of directors.
The appointment follows what the body has described as a “comprehensive and rigorous selection process”.
In a joint statement, the Ownership Body said: “Alistair brings a wealth of experience and continuity to the role, having served as interim chair during a pivotal period for Red Tractor.
“Under his leadership, the organisation has made significant progress in responding to the Campbell Tickell and Farm Assurance Reviews, with key recommendations now actively being adopted.
“His appointment reflects the Ownership Body’s confidence in his ability to lead Red Tractor forward with clarity, integrity, and a strong commitment to robust assurance standards.”
Red Tractor appointment
The Ownership Body said it has also accepted the Campbell Tickell and Farm Assurance Reviews’ recommendations that, in addition to its current responsibilities in regard to appointment of AFS board members and chair and adoption of the annual report, the Ownership Body should play a more active role.
While the AFS board will retain full responsibility for the governance of the organisation, the Ownership Body said it will support the chair as the AFS board considers the recommendations of both reviews.
Alistair Mackintosh, a Cumbrian beef, sheep and arable farmer, has been serving as interim chair of Red Tractor since 1 July 2024.
Mackintosh said: “I am honoured to be appointed chair of Red Tractor, an organisation that I believe has a central role to play in ensuring confidence in British food and farming.
“I am totally committed to rebuilding farmer’s trust in Red Tractor. There’s a great deal of work to do and I look forward to working with the Ownership Body, AFS board and Red Tractor team as we continue to deliver the improvements needed.”
Mackintosh is the first farmer to be appointed as chair of the AFS board in Red Tractor’s 25-year history.
He has a long history of championing the farming industry and has previously served as National Farming Union (NFU) livestock chairman and as a member of the NFU Council.
Prior to his appointment as interim chair, Mackintosh held the positions of cice-chair on the AFS board and chair of the Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Sector Board.
Last August he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cumbrian Farming Awards.
Red Tractor’s Ownership Body
The Red Tractor food assurance programme is owned and run by the registered company Assured Food Standards (AFS).
AFS is owned by a coalition of trade bodies: NFU; NFU Scotland,; Ulster Farmers Union (UFU); Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB); Dairy UK; the British Retail Consortium.
Each owner organisation provides the ‘limited by guarantee’ of £1 to AFS, which operates as a not-for-profit company. The Food and Drink Federation is also an observer of the Ownership Body.
Red Tractor is the UK’s largest food and farm assurance scheme, and the only one assuring the entire food supply chain – from animal welfare and food safety to traceability and environmental protection.
