Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13cbf-e74c-737d-92e7-76aae9195f1d/uk-farming-assurance-schemes-and-foods-produced-to-higher-environmental-product awarded GB restricted procedure Suitable for SMEs # UK Farming Assurance schemes and foods produced to 'higher environmental production standards' [Defra](https://tendernation.io/buyers/defra) Often single bidder Estimated value £44,424 Published 30 Mar 2023 Deadline Closed 7 Nov 2022 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Small contract value Valued under £135,018 including VAT, the lowest Procurement Act threshold for goods and services. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender ### Introduction UK public sector food and catering could be a powerful lever to support the transition to a more sustainable food system. There is an urgent requirement to understand the impact of different farming production methods and their role in environmental sustainability in order to inform future Defra policy on public sector food procurement. Defra requires evidence to explore what farming assurance schemes are present in the market that could be described as meeting "higher environmental production standards." There is also a need to understand the current supply and demand of food produced to higher environmental production standards (both under the current scope and wider), and what impact proposed changes in public procurement standards could have on the UK agri-food system. ### Aims and objectives - DEFRA wishes to understand the evidence relating to farming assurance schemes through: - Mapping the farming assurance schemes available in the UK market, including retail-based schemes, and to include what standards and indicators they use that are relevant to higher environmental farming practices. - An analysis based on the scheme's indicators and, whether it is likely that the investigated schemes result in higher environmental production standards - An estimate of current coverage, in terms of number and type of farms signed up, for these schemes and volume of production by product category. - An understanding of what data and tools are available that quantifies the environmental impact of the different assurance schemes and farming practices or improvements, both at a UK farm level and at a global level. - DEFRA wishes to understand the evidence relating to the effect of proposed procurement requirements on the supply of higher environmentally produced food and associated impacts, specifically: - Market share and quantity of food currently produced to higher environmental production standards (of UK produced and globally imported food), and how this compares to the quantity required to fulfil proposed procurement requirements for a minimum of 20% of UK food spend to meet higher environmental production standards. This should include some modelling of the potential change in supply of food that meets required standards as a result of possible changes in government standards for food procurement - Modelling of the potential scale of impact that this proposed policy may have on the makeup of UK domestic production, particularly the potential effects on environmental impact, reduced yields, resource efficiency, land use change and risk of importation. Read full description ## CPV classification Research and development consultancy services Source Contracts Finder (UK) [View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/86562293-796a-439e-905d-b37286032579) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Defra: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/defra) [Sector More Research & development tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/research-development) ## More tenders like this [Tees Bird Mapping Project · Natural England · 24 days left · 13 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a158c1-0a39-72df-aac0-991d1747cd02/tees-bird-mapping-project) [Research services – Evaluatie van de implementatie van de proeftuin Pioniersscholen · Vlaamse Overheid · 20 days left · 9 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-cecf-7255-bee1-542f502ed088/belgium-research-services-evaluatie-van-de-implementatie-van-de-proeftuin-pi) [Research services – KPN/28/2026 „Charakterystyka biogeochemiczna gleb i roślin wybranych torfowisk subalpejskich ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem torfowiska u źródeł Úpy na Równi pod Śnieżką” · Karkonoski Park Narodowy z siedzibą w Jeleniej Górze · 34 days left · 23 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-97ae-7315-8e1a-e686bca1e724/poland-research-services-kpn282026-charakterystyka-biogeochemiczna-gleb-i) [Research and development services and related consultancy services – Evaluation of Five Pilot Projects Testing Exemptions from Provisions of the Local Government Act, the Property Tax Act, the General Practitioner Regulations, and Other Regulatory Frameworks · Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development · 14 days left · 3 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-a35e-73b3-8bf4-7d33c32cf58b/norway-research-and-development-services-and-related-consultancy-services-ev) [Research and development services and related consultancy services – Zabezpečenie trvalých a analytických činností pre oblasť dopravy · Ministerstvo dopravy Slovenskej republiky · 30 days left · 19 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-ce90-72fd-b25d-99b3ee2e8b4b/slovakia-research-and-development-services-and-related-consultancy-services) [Research and development consultancy services – ATU wishes to establish a Panel of National Contact Point Experts across EU Member States to build capacity to incorporate EU Results-Based Payments Schemes in Public or Private Support Schemes. · Atlantic Technological University · 438 days left · 31 Dec 2027](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-ccf1-7050-b440-6554b4a1426f/ireland-austria-slovenia-research-and-development-consultancy-services-atu)