On the Road
GLOBAL G.A.P. Summit | Biofuels behind the scenes
Red Tractor Combinable Crops members enjoy access into the European biofuels market through the Renewable Energy Directive without the need for additional audits.
Our team spend a lot of time making sure that the compliance aspects of this earned recognition relationship is maintained. And in return our members get additional value as confirmed by the recent AHDB market insights.
Our expertise often focuses on ensuring members meet these standards for market access. However, the technical and operational details of how agricultural products, such as feed wheat, are transformed into biofuels, essential for compliance with biofuel sustainability criteria, are outside our daily scope of work. This month, our Crops Technical Manager Annie Rogers took the opportunity to meet with the team at Vivergo to gain valuable insights into the biofuel production process.
Understanding the scale and complexity of the operation, such as Vivergo's ability to produce bioethanol equivalent to 1 billion bottles of spirits annually, helps us appreciate the significant market opportunities for Red Tractor members. Plus, it is crucial that we stay current with both technical advancements and legislative changes, ensuring Red Tractor members can continue to access valuable markets like the European biofuels sector.
For Red Tractor, staying informed about industry developments is crucial when setting and updating standards.
Awareness of current trends, technological advancements, and regulatory changes enables Red Tractor to develop standards that are not only relevant but also forward-thinking and aligning with the latest industry and member expectations. This means that Red Tractor can ensure that its standards support farmers in meeting evolving market demands, enhancing their competitiveness whilst at the same maintaining consumer trust in the Red Tractor logo and championing the best of British Food.
This is why Sam Trevey, Red Tractor’s Fresh Produce Technical Manager attended the recent GLOBALG.A.P. Summit 2024 in Warsaw, Poland. As scrutiny around transparency and accountability grows, producers, suppliers, and buyers are under increasing pressure to meet consumer expectations and comply with emerging supply chain legislation. Topics covered included advancements in artificial intelligence, precision farming, and remote sensing technologies, and their transformative impact on agricultural practices.
Discussions also underscored the rising importance of green claims, certification, consumer trust, and product labelling as strategies to enhance brand loyalty and secure robust pricing for producers. Additionally, the summit highlighted opportunities to improve traceability and transparency within supply chains, stressing the need for production processes that meet heightened sustainability standards.
