Food Safety, Quality & Sustainability
Submitting Institution
Royal Agricultural UniversityUnit of Assessment
Agriculture, Veterinary and Food ScienceSummary Impact Type
PoliticalResearch Subject Area(s)
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Agriculture, Land and Farm Management
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration
Summary of the impact
Food safety and quality management developments have resulted from a
combination of major food incidents, government regulations and industry
initiatives. This has led to the development of private standards that
have become quasi-regulatory on industry. The body of evidence aggregated
from the RAU's research and consultancy activities has provided a unique
global perspective on food safety regulation and management. Governments,
NGOs and industry have used this evidence to further national and global
strategies for food safety management including primary production.
Current research is now centering on two key areas: strategic management
of risks in primary production and public: private partnerships supporting
agriculture.
Underpinning research
Dr Richard Baines, (Principal Lecturer); Dr James Jones, (Principal
Lecturer, retired march 2013); Mrs Sally Story, (Consultancy Manager,
initially appointed as research assistant in 2004).
All websites quoted were accessed on 26/11/2013.
Impact 1. Government and Industry Guidance on Global Environmental,
Social and Market Standards for Agriculture and Food Industries.
A scholarship award from the Farmers Club funded a global study of farm
and food industry standards by Baines in 2000. The research was based on
the analysis of standards, including mechanisms of inspection and
certification, and interviews with key stakeholders. This work underpinned
several international seminars and conference papers.
Following this initial work, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australia (AFFA) commissioned a study of European Retailers, Standards and
Market Access and the potential impact on Australian producers and food
industry (Baines, 2001). This was based on an analysis of retail
private standards, interviews with integrators and an analysis of the
links to farm level standards and evolving EU food laws. This study was
presented at an international conference in Melbourne in 2003 and
thereafter the key issues were shared with farmers and agri-food industry
at several workshops in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Hobart and
Perth. The core message is still published on the Australian Department of
Agriculture web site "Safety on the Shelf; the Impact of Global Retailer's
safety and quality requirements on Australian Food exporters" (2002) (http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/food/publications/safely-shelf).
This research underpinned a paper for a Canadian Government and Industry
workshop on global developments of farm food safety standards, following
which a further study was commissioned by the Canadian Government on
potential models for integrating environment into on-farm food safety
programmes (Baines, 2004) which evaluated farm standards including
environmental deliverables and developed a conceptual model for private
standards. In addition, a Memorandum of Evidence to the Select Committee
on UK Food Safety and Food Information in 2004 was submitted and Dr Baines
was invited to give evidence given in person.
This body of research was summarised in a book `Delivering performance in
food supply chains' (Baines, 2010) and led to subsequent work
commissioned by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFi, Arlington VA, USA)
— see section 4.
Impact 2. Farmer Engagement linked to Risk Perceptions and Management
A study under the RELU (Rural Economy and Land Use) programme (Baines
et al., 2007) evaluated private environmental
standards for agriculture and showed that they are a key tool to manage
quality, food safety and various intangible attributes relating to
production practices — including impacts on the environment — within the
supply chains of multiple food retailers and branded manufacturers and
processors interviewing amongst others, Mack Multiples.
This led to the development of a project with Mack Multiples between 2007
and 2009 funded by Department for International Development (DfID) through
the Commark Trust (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmintdev/921/921we32.htm)
which developed a model based both on the earlier work and on the RELU
study, and on articulating farm and food standards through a joint venture
to improve market access and quality of farmer produce.
Impact 3. Emerging Policy on Sustainable Livestock in the UK.
A study for the Prince's Rainforest Project (Baines, 2008)
evaluated the impacts and sustainability of oil palm, soybean and tropical
beef ranching on global rainforests.
Subsequently Friends of the Earth (FoE) commissioned research (Baines
& Jones, 2010) which explored the potential for home-grown
protein crops as alternatives to imported soybeans including evaluation of
the effect of climate change, CAP reform and other policy considerations
relating to animal feed.
References to the research
Baines, R. N. (2001) Food Safety and Quality Programs of Global
Retailers. A report for the Food Business Group, Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry, Australia (AFFA) (available on request)
Baines, R. N. (2004) Environmental Certification through Farm
Assurance — A Review. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Toronto, Canada.
(available on request).
Baines, R. N. (2008) Current and Alternative Production
Patterns of Beef, Soy and Oil Palm: Implications for Rainforest
Conservation The Prince's Rainforest Project. (available on request)
Baines, R.N. (2010). Quality and safety standards in food supply
chains. In Mena, C., Baines, R. and Stevens, G. (ed.) (2010) Delivering
performance in food supply chains Woodhead Publishing. 15, 303-323 ISBN
9781439827260
Baines, R. N. and Jones, J.V.H. (2010) The potential for replacing
imported soy with alternative home grown protein feeds for UK livestock.
Research Report for Friends of the Earth. (available on request)
Details of the impact
The research into food safety, quality and sustainability focussed on
understanding the mechanisms, opportunities and constraints of private
standards and strategies to identify, measure, manage and communicate
risks (hygiene, quality, environmental, social, economic or reputational)
when encountered. This has helped governments (Australia and Canada) and
industry to develop their own strategies to manage such risks and has led
to further research and impacts as below.
Impact 1. Government and Industry Guidance on Global Environmental,
Social and Market Standards for Agriculture and Food Industries.
Based on the underpinning research described in section 2, especially the
work for the Canadian Government, the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFi,
Arlington VA, USA) commissioned Dr Baines to develop two new training
modules for primary producers and the food industry globally. The
Responsible Environmental module and the Employee Care module consisted of
standards, guidance, training materials and recommended audit checklists.
These standards have since been combined into the SQF Ethical Sourcing
Code (2010), a voluntary module to run alongside the mandatory Food Safety
& Quality plans of SQF1000 (farms) and SQF2000 (food businesses).
Compliance with this Code allows SQF certified businesses to meet the
ethical requirements of many of the global retailers such as M&S and
Sainsbury's in the UK.
Impact 2. Farmer Engagement linked to Risk Perceptions and Management
The underpinning research funded by RELU (Baines et al, 2007) led
to the project funded by the Department for International Development
(DfID) through the Commark Trust which developed a model based on
articulating farm and food standards to improve market access and quality
of farmer produce. Then, through farmer engagement, a joint venture
between Zambian smallholders and Mack Multiples (a major produce
integrator in the UK) was established. This joint venture (ZSSG) currently
includes over 50 growers with a target to involve 200 small farmers;
furthermore, produce from these growers has been on UK supermarket shelves
since 2012 (avocado) and in South African supermarkets (melons).
"The Royal Agricultural College was responsible for researching and
collating a feasibility study of this project on behalf of Mack Multiples
while facilitating the input of Standard Bank and the Small Scale growers.
The Royal Agricultural College will follow the implementation of this
project and write it up as a case study as a record for future
implementation should this model be implemented in other countries. Mack
Multiples have requested that the Royal Agricultural College have 2%
voting rights on the PMO Board". (quote from Mack Multiples project
document, available on request)
Impact 3. Emerging Policy on Sustainable Livestock in the UK.
Research commissioned by the Princes Rainforest Project (Baines, 2008)
was used to underpin evidence given to Conference of the Parties (COP) 15
in 2009. Subsequent to this Baines & Jones (2010) carried out
research for Friends of the Earth (FoE) which was incorporated in their
report "Pastures New: a sustainable future for meat and dairy farming"
published on their website http://www.foe.co.uk/news/pastures_new_24660
"Pastures New : This report summarises the RAC's key findings as
well as drawing on Friends of the Earth's own research. It includes case
studies to illustrate planet-friendly farming in action. It is aimed at
farmers, policy makers, campaigners and MPs, but will prove essential
reading for anyone interested in food and the environment. It concludes
with a series of recommendations, mainly to Government, to achieve a more
sustainable future for livestock farming in the UK." (FoE)
This document also makes it clear that the RAC research was used as key
evidence in FoE's campaign for a new law ultimately aimed at protecting
rain forests. An independent Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2010
which `Required the Secretary of State to prepare and implement a strategy
to improve the sustainability of livestock farming and the sustainability
of the consumption of livestock products; and for connected purposes'.
During the debate on 12 November
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101112/debtext/101112-
0001.htm the Government gave its reasons for voting against the
Sustainable Livestock Bill. However, FoE argued that this new law would
have been a big step towards preventing UK meat and dairy production from
destroying rainforests and leading to massive climate-changing emissions.
Sources to corroborate the impact
Impact 1. Government and Industry Guidance on Global Environmental,
Social and Market Standards for Agriculture and Food Industries.
1. Safe Quality Food Institute. Ethical Sourcing Module syllabus (2010)
http://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/Ethical-Sourcing-Module.pdf)
a. Ethical Sourcing Module content (2010) http://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/Ethical-Sourcing-Guidance.pdf
2. Correspondence (available on request) "This is to confirm that as
Executive Director of the SQF Institute I engaged the services of Dr
Richard Baines of the Royal Agriculture College to draft, trial and
finalise an Ethical Sourcing Module and supporting training program to
accompany the SQF Code series of standards. The project (research &
drafting) commenced early 2006 prior to introduction to potential users at
2006 SQFI Conference in Washington DC in Oct 2006. The project continued
with further review, research, drafting & trials (Washington Apple
Growers) and developing training materials and final drafting until you
completed the project in 2009 (after I left the SQF Institute)"
Confirmation of contract available
Impact 2. Farmer Engagement linked to Risk Perceptions and Management
1. Trade Mark Southern Africa (no date) Hass Avocados: A Fruitful Legacy.
TMSA Case Studies no 23. "The Hass avocado project is being implemented
through the Zambian Small Scale Growers (ZSSG), a producer marketing
organisation set up by Mack Multiples, a leading fresh produce importer in
the UK, that links Zambian small-scale growers to high value UK markets.
ZSSG was initially established in August 2008 with funding from the
Commark Trust, an older UK aid-supported project successfully absorbed by
TMSA". This summarises the on-going impact of the ZSSG Joint Venture
http://www.trademarksa.org/sites/default/files/publications/16-05-2013%20TMSA%20Case%20Study%20-%20Hass%20Avos%20-%20A%20Fruitful%20Legacy.pdf
Contract and concept note available on request
Impact 3. Evidence to support emerging Policy on Sustainable Livestock
in the UK
1. Friends of the Earth (2010) Pastures New. A Sustainable Future for
Meat and Dairy Farming: "Pastures New is a new report by Friends of the
Earth — based on research by the Royal Agricultural College". PDF
available
http://www.foe.co.uk/news/pastures_new_24660
2. Sustainability of Livestock Farming and Food Production (Strategy)
Bill (2010)
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmbills/094/2010094.pdf