Red Tractor’s virtual lockdown audits set to change farm inspection regime for good

“Rather than a physical inspection, livestreaming could have a role to play as part of our wider toolbox.”

Red Tractor is the first assurance scheme to put together a system of remote inspections which will not need to be supplemented by a physical audit after the lockdown is over.

Chief executive Jim Moseley said it was vital for inspections to continue during the pandemic to ensure a safe supply of domestically-produced food and avoid a huge backlog of inspections after restrictions on movement are eased.

He also pointed out that new applicants seeking assurance because they were no longer able to supply food service markets would need to be inspected quickly if they were to realign to the retail sector.

Concerned

Before Easter, the scheme had 167 new applicants, including beef and lamb farmers concerned about whether marts would stay open and dairy producers who had previously supplied local cafes.

Around 40 trials of the new protocol have taken place across the pigs, poultry, crops, fresh produce, livestock and dairy sectors, and the aim is to have hundreds more carried out over the next three weeks, before the scheme is fully rolled out in early May.

The new virtual inspections will be ‘targeted’ at farmers whose inspections are due and new applicants.

No unannounced inspections are to take place during lockdown.