Assurance schemes for UKs growers 

To what extent are current assurance schemes (for conventional crops) addressing environmental sustainability issues?

Food safety plays an important role in food production. Now a days it has become a challenge before the growers to produce a qualitative and quantitative food for fast increasing population in many part of the world. In due course of time the food  requirement will reach to escalated level and the gap between the supply and demand will rise. Assuring food safety, the entire food chain is the vital priority for the food industry. The food scarcity would be the big issue and people will starve due to want of food. It is not only of the availability of food but also the safety of food. Besides food safety, the environmental sustainability is another important issue to be considered while making any agriculture plan and insurance. A typical assurance schemes of different conventional crops plays an important role in deciding its impact on several environmental issues. Many environmental issues can be explained for eg. Soil fertility, soil erosion, soil structure, human safety, environmental pollution created by excessive use of chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, intensive farming system…etc. An assurance scheme for conventional crops must be studied carefully to see at what extend these schemes address the environmental sustainability.    

                Red tractor farm assurance addresses the standards for fresh vegetables, salads, and fruit grown on producer’s farm. In order to provide safety and quality food to consumers, these assurance schemes mainly focus on Integrated farming systems with minimum use of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals, implementation of good horticultural practices, and gives more emphases on the environmental protection.Besides this red tractor assurance also believes that it is much important to know from where our food comes from? Where it is grown (origin) and in what way it has been grown? So all these points ensures us about conventional crop assurances provided by red tractor assurance. It has  positive effect over a food safety and environmental sustainability. Red tractor schemes are owned by assured food standards and have been updated from year to year. The aim behind updating  these assurance scheme is to address the scientific evidence, legislative requirements , sufficient scientific knowledge, skilled horticultural practices, and consumers concerns. Well recognized framework ‘Integrated crop Management system’ is adapted, in which the use of pesticides is reduced with other well balanced application of fertilizers and use of pollution free agricultural technologies. In such management system producer must meet the every need of their animals and should honour the ‘Five freedom’ expanded by Farm animal Welfare council. Therefore Consumers can be confident that products carrying the Red Tractor Logo have met Red Tractor Standards through all stages of production, processing and packing. However it is again necessary to examine these (or some of them) conventional crop assurance very carefully to see if they really have not any adverse effect over environmental sustainability. After careful examination of conventional crop assurance schemes, it will clear that, at what extent they address the environmental sustainability.

                                                

Certification in the Scheme and Compliance with Legal Requirements

                One can only get certification for his produce if it meets all the  standards set by red tractor assurance scheme. The inspection is done by the independent assessee and in animal section, the reports from nominated private veterinary surgeons. As the standard changes, the producer is informed about that. Producer’s routine point of contact with the Scheme is through  several Certification Bodies appointed by the Scheme to manage membership and to carry out assessment and certification against the standards.The Scheme operates as a Product Certification Scheme and Certification Bodies must be accredited to the international standard EN45011 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. New applications are accepted throughout the year.Producer can not sell his produce until he get the certificate of conformity from the dignified authority. The multi-enterprise holder should mention for which part of the enterprises must included in assurance. Upon a contact made to certificate bodies, the producer will be issued the copy of registration pack which includes the relevant standards, an application form , useful literature..etc. Membership is registered under the name of the Business with a  nominated person who has functional responsibility for the management, decisions and operating systems being assessed in the Scheme. The  nominated person must sign the Certification Body’s application and subsequent renewal forms and keep the Certification Body informed of any material changes. Assessment is done on the appointment only. After assessment, initial certification is issued followed by certification of confirmation.

Standards

1)      Seed Nursery and root stock.

Nursery management is a skilled job and plays a key role in overall development of crops. In assured schemes it is recommended to treat the seeds before use. The pretreatment of the seed has considerable advantages as it can protect seed from seed born diseases. It is advisable to keep the records of all such treatments. The pest and disease resistance crop species are accepted. If the recommended treatment is with chemicals it  may create some environmental issues.   

2)      Soil Management

It is found that, if the same crop is grown in the same land for many years, it creates a  favourable conditions to increase the soil born diseases, soil erosion, loss of nutrient, loss of organic matter….etc. Therefore Crop rotation is necessary to follow to minimize all these issues.

Well and properly managed soil will help to maintain the soil structure and reduce the use of different chemicals. Conservation of soil organic matter splay an important role in soil binding and maintaining the soil nutrient level, and soil conservation as well.  Under this standard it is necessary to have knowledge of soil classification to the producers.As much as possible It is recommended to avoid the soil fumigation with chemicals.To my opinion it is  necessary to maintain the soil  health better with nature friendly ways which ultimately ensure the degradation of soil and get rid of chemical hazards.

3)      Environmental Sustainability

 Due to rapid urbanization, agricultural land is utilized for industry, construction of buildings and  other purposes.Ultimatelyit results in to loss of natural habitat ,wild life and species as well. Under these standards, the management of wild life and conservation of natural species has been given importance.This ensures protection to wild life, flora and fauna . Besides this, the producer must understand the growing procedure to maintain balance between production system and natural resources present in the area. This certainly has positive impact over a environmental sustainability.

4)      Environmental protection

There are several factors which cause the environmental pollution viz. excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, their improper management etc. Under red tractor assurance standards producer must keep the storage area clean and should use proper balanced dose of fertilizer and pesticides. Under these standards producer must carry all safety measure while using chemical pesticides, fertilizers and cleanliness should be maintain at all the levels.

                       As per my own perception is concern after reading this standard, if the producers are advised to use organic pesticides and fertilizers, then it will have more favourable impact over a environment. The key point from this standard I must focus that ‘Potential pollutants such as silage, slurry, agricultural fuel oil and waste such as empty containers must be stored appropriately to prevent pollution and spread of disease’ and this would be the positive point of this standards. Pesticides should be sprayed in such way that they should not create any kind of pollution. Inorganic fertilizers must be used within a 12^th months.  However I must add from my knowledge that, the maximum emphases should be given on natural pesticides since they are comparatively cheap as against chemical pesticides. Their storage is also safety.

5)      Irrigation

          

Water is most vital element for life,availability of water and its quality are of utmost important as polluted water acts as source of cause for many diseases and health of living things.Unlike human beings the crops grown in field too require proper supply of water through efficient irrigation system. Under the Irrigation standard I came to know that, producers should adapt scientifically recognized irrigation system. Proper record of irrigation should be maintained with the analysis of source of water.

                        In Harvesting, the producers should follow the hygienic conditions while harvesting the produce with the personal cleaning and should avoid all kind of contamination to the produce. Here the producers are told not to use any chemicals, lubricants, oil, cleaning chemicals, plant and other debris, lunch bags etc as a containers of the farm produce. Under residues and contaminants standards, the producer must  test for the pesticide residues at least once in a year. In addition to this producer must read specific guide lines relevant to particular or specific crop to minimize the pesticides residues.  So in this section I found all the strategies are addressing the environmental issues in a positive way.  So in a summary of the standards I would conclude that, the standards are set in a way that the producers can put their produce before the consumers most acceptable safety way. It also ensures ‘quality’. Consumers are provided with the confidence what they they are going to consume,Since all kinds of protection measures are taken to protect the rights of consumer.this not only at final stage but each stage of production,packaging and storage,transport and marketing.Some of them are application of fertilizers,use of pesticides etc.it ultimately ensures  quality of produce. Natural flora and fauna has to be maintained and conservation of the genetic resources for future use. It is advisable to use essential chemicals on seed , nursery and rootstock, but here I would like to mention that , the maximum emphasis should be given on safety level. use of ‘ pesticides , fertilizers of organic origin’. Crop rotation is suggested under the soil and site management which is really a great step to maintain health and impact on environmental sustainability, since the crop rotation helps to maintain the soil structure.          

                                                 Protocol- Tomato (Protected)

The crop specific protocols are based on typical crop production process and food and environmental safety. The protocols are generally set with the aim to give minimum damage to environment and other environmental sustainability issues. The overall layout of the tomato protocol is similar to Red tractor Farm Assurance Fresh produce Standards.

1)      Choice of Variety or rootstock and plant health certification.

It is always beneficial to choose the healthy plant material before planting. It is not advisable to accept the seed material of unknown provenance, such as those intended for trial purposes, and it is because there is a chance of transmission of diseases. To my  view this kind of standards are really helping to maintain the environmental sustainability.

2)      Site and Soil Management.

                                                     

                                     Under this section, generally producers has to reduce the pest numbers on previous crops before any particular pest go into the diapauses in next season. High volume spray with short persistence pesticide if there is a still problem after termination of cropping. Fumigants  are allowed to disinfect. Weeds has to be removed around the production area (Green house) before the arrival of new plant, as many weeds e.g. chickweed sowthistle, are called as a hosts of tomato spotted wilt virus. Green houses should have appropriate ‘no smoking zone’

3)      Environmental protection, pest and diseases control.  

                                    Pesticides of biological origin must be used. However chemicals pesticides can be used as a substitute to them if they are not showing desirable effect. The records of pesticide application must be maintained. The impact of pest and disease attack on crops is quite considerable and has greater effect on quality and quantity of food produce. Chemical pesticides are of chemical in nature and where as Bio pesticides have a biological origin. In Bio control of pests the existing population of living organism is reduced by other living organisms. Under biological control, predators, parasites and natural enemies are used to control the pests. There are some benefits behind using the chemical insecticides, as they kill or repel the insect pest those causes the quality and yield of the food produce. Many of the chemical insecticides are economic. But while considering these benefits we cannot neglect the hazardous effect of chemical pesticides over a pests and crops since they cannot distinguish between pest and non pests and may become harmful to useful organisms. After spraying chemical insecticide they just kill any insects those come in their way. While applying chemicals over the crops if they are applied in excess and their leaching may contaminate the irrigation water as well as ground water. It is  necessary to take prevention method while spraying the chemical pesticides otherwise it may affect adversely to the sprayer and may pollute the environment. There are many advantages behalf the biopesticides can be quoted like, if they are used as a part of Integrated Pest management, they can show better result as compared to the chemical pesticides.  Biopesticides since having a biological origin so do not leaves any residual effect behind and therefore never can be harmful to the crops, humans and environment. So here I must say that Biological control as a part of this protocol is really helping to maintain the environmental sustainability. Many of the bio control methods of pests are listed under this protocol. And grower can find suitable method of controlling method out of them, and can reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

                                    It is necessary to have identification knowledge of diseases and pest because unless we can’t examine which kind of disease or pest it is, we can’t apply proper pesticides. Therefore this is another considerable parameter of this protocol.   Under the ‘Disease control’ it is advisable to avoid the maximum use of fungicides by proper and good use of disease management system. Bio control methods are also encouraged to use to control the diseases.

                                The excellent work is done in this protocol by listing the major and important diseases of tomato. In this protocol it seems that the maximum important has been given to the use of bio-control agents and therefore it is addressing the environmental issues in a positive way.

4)      Nutrition.

Growers/producers are advised to keep water and nutrients in recirculation. Soil and water conservation are important parameters of this protocol which can help in maintaining the environmental sustainability.

5)      Residues and Contaminants.

It is important to keep production area very clean and contamination free. And under this protocol the producers should late apply the fungicide to the edible portion of crop and it is because to avoid the contamination of chemicals. 

                                                                     Conclusion,

In conclusion, I would say about this assurance, standards. Protocol, that these schemes are playing an important role in maintaining the environmental sustainability. These are most important steps to protect rights of cosumer as well as the efficient management of crop management with most desired manner to create a synergy between production and consumption.The safety of production, consumption and environment sustainability are the priority areas at world level. Careful examination of the all important standards, I feel that it serves all the purpose of the organization to make it in best form to address the environmental issues in a positive way. However looking towards present situation emphasis should be given to Integrated Farming System, Integrated Pest Management, and Integrated Diseases management Systems.We can never rely upon a single way of safety standards but a sound balance between modern and previlaged organic and integrated approach to the existing protocol and assurance.