Red Tractor assurance for biofuels will aid growers in the marketplace

A new scheme, which could see farm assurance for biofuels, is being submitted to the EU Commission by Assured Food Standards this autumn.

The extension to the Red Tractor Assured Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Scheme has been welcomed by the NFU who says the move, if successful, could give British growers a head start in the burgeoning bio-energy market while at the same time keeping the burden of the new EU regulations to a minimum.

The changes will to help ensure that farmers and growers have easy means to demonstrate they comply with new mandatory requirements on land criteria of the biofuel and bioliquid markets which are being introduced under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

It will see two additional questions for growers included in their Red Tractor assurance renewal packs and the information provided will be verified during the annual audit. And with new plants coming on-line, including Ensus and Vivergo in the North East, the NFU is keen to promote the new way of showing land sustainability as a positive opportunity for the arable industry.

NFU combinable crops board chairman Ian Backhouse said: This new development will mean that the crops grown by participating farmers for biofuels come with a certification that demonstrates that the crops have been grown to sustainable standards and that the end fuel meets the strict guidelines set out by the EU. It also removes the need for a government or supply chain scheme being imposed on growers.

The NFU has worked with AFS to ensure that existing systems can be used to provide additional information and the verification required and that the changes will not be time-consuming or costly for growers. The changes have been designed to have a minimal burden on farm as they utilise the existing strengths of the Red Tractor systems, and provide an easy system of recognition for farmers crops for these new and growing markets.

Participation in this system will offer broader benefits for assured farms, as crops with the badge of assurance will have a market advantage for these new homes for cereals, sugar beet and oilseeds. This will benefit all who participate, facilitate trading and supporting demand for their crops in Europe, adding value and supporting prices.

The Red Tractor Farm Assurance Crops & Sugar Beet Scheme (Formerly ACCS and including Genesis QA Crops and Soil Association Crops) has over 16,000 members in England & Wales

The proposal is that farms which supply data in response to the new questions will have straightforward access to these new markets for crops. Answering these new questions and providing the relevant information around land use and environmental sustainability will be checked and recorded at the annual assurance inspection, and no other burdens of proof will then be needed for scheme members.

Farmers will be receiving these questions shortly, and some may already have them. In order to help answer any enquiries the NFU has a Q&A online.