The ultimate expectation is for about 6500 farms.
At the launch there were six processor members – Anzco, Silver Fern Farms, Alliance, Greenlea, Progressive and Blue Sky Meats.
Since last July another 11 companies including sheep, beef, deer and fibre exporters have joined, a significant increase over the number originally expected by this stage of the programme’s implementation. Commitment by venison and wool exporters, including Pamu Farms, has led to the increased uptake.
There are considerable efficiency benefits for farmers from FAP, which, to date, have resulted in a 38% reduction in the number of audits that would have been necessary for the farmers involved under processors’ individual schemes.
There is also an estimated cost saving of up to 20% for the processors from using the FAP system.
The programme’s greatest significance is its validation of the Taste Pure Nature origin brand. Only FAP-assured product can be sold under the brand.
NZ’s overseas customers are universally positive about the transition to a single quality-assurance programme that supports claims made about the quality of our products.
It is critically important to this country’s goal of feeding the wealthiest segment of the global population that all producers and processors, as well as customers, can have absolute confidence in the integrity of the production and audit process.
Turton said he knows of no concerns about the content of the standards, either from farmers or customers, though Version 2, scheduled for release in May, will incorporate some minor changes or additions to animal welfare standards.
Farmers I have spoken to in North Auckland are very positive about their experience with FAP and previously their meat processor’s quality assurance programme as well as qualification for the premium for compliance with the programme.
The independent farm audits are the responsibility of AsureQuality, which is meeting its overall targets for farm audits. AsureQuality’s Aaron Lambert told me the company has a robust planning process and constantly adjusts recruitment and training to ensure capacity matches the expected supply and demand from the increased programme uptake across different regions.
Farms are audited on a rolling schedule over a three-year cycle though poor farm performance automatically entails a higher audit frequency.
In general, farmers and processors are pleased with the FAP roll-out but, as with any new system, there have been some teething problems, one farmer expressing some frustration with delays to audit and communication.
This problem was backed up by the livestock manager of a more recently joined processor who said the introduction of FAP was proving to be a drawn-out process for various reasons – farmers ask lots of questions but might not have studied the FAP handbook properly before the first audit, livestock buyers might be slow to hand out the application forms and there appears to be timing pressure on the audit cycle.
However, he is thoroughly supportive of the programme, saying both overseas and domestic customers want the assurance it provides.
Anzco’s Grant Bunting also commented on the reluctance of some farmers, particularly in the traditional sheep farming regions of the far south, to be told how to farm.
SFF market access and regulation manager Neil Smith, who co-chairs the FAP governance group, expressed great enthusiasm for the scheme, saying, as one of the first companies to commit, SFF had no problems transferring farmers from their individual farm assurance programme to FAP and is about a third of the way through the process.
Although there is more recording involved, farmers see the benefit.
Kuwara Trust manager Brad Douglas at Tapora on the Kaipara is very positive about his experience, both with Affco Select and the FAP programme for which the farm was audited in May last year.
The auditor told him his audit was successful on the day, after which his buyer told him the farm had qualified for Affco Select and would receive the premium on lambs sent for slaughter. Douglas is adamant FAP provides a very valuable and user-friendly method of recording all his farm operations and production records and he has no idea why everybody doesn’t do it.
Helensville farmer Andrew McKenzie has been on Affco Select for several years and is very pleased with that programme but has no misgivings about transferring to FAP when he is next audited because he sees the benefits to his compliance with a uniform set of standards.
When RMPP winds up at the end of 2020, responsibility for FAP will be transferred to a new entity because there will still be a lot of hard work to ensure the programme is adopted by all farm operations, old and new.
So far, after little more than 18 months, FAP has proved it will be an essential tool in support of Taste Pure Nature, enabling production and supply of high quality NZ red meat and natural fibre to the world’s highest paying customers.
