Farming policy needs a stronger vision and increased funds to deliver for farmers, food security and nature, say The Wildlife Trusts.

Farming policy needs a stronger vision and increased funds to deliver for farmers, food security and nature, say The Wildlife Trusts.

Today, The Wildlife Trusts publish a briefing – Environmental Land Management schemes & Food Security – the case for increased investment in nature for UK Food Security – ahead of the Oxford Farming Conferences this week. The Wildlife Trusts are calling for:

  • A plan to deliver at least 3,000 Countryside Stewardship Agreements per year by 2028, supported by increased resourcing for Natural England to process and offer agreements and a ring-fenced budget.

  • An increase to the annual farming budget to £3.1 billion/year in England to support nature-friendly farming, safeguard livelihoods, improve animal welfare and meet critical climate, nature and water targets.

  • A focus on ensuring that Landscape Recovery projects get “off the shelf” and enter the implementation phase, delivering real outcomes on the ground.

  • Publication of an outcomes-focused Land Use Framework which sets out an overarching framework that guides prioritisation for land use change, and a national spatial plan that broadly identifies constraints and opportunities for land use.