Long-awaited farming 'roadmap' outlined by Government

Ministers have announced the long-promised farming roadmap, developed in partnership with the sector, which they say will give farmers certainty “beyond the next harvest”.

The plan includes an extra £53m for the farming innovation programme – bringing total funding for this year to £123m – with dedicated cash for robotics and soil health and water management.

The Government also plans to work with the industry to develop sector growth plans in areas such as horticulture and poultry, support collaborative models such as cooperatives, and cut EU trade friction hampering exports with a new deal with the bloc.

Seasonal worker visas will continue to 2030, to support the horticulture sector, Defra said.

Farmers make hay while the sun shines in Worcestershire. Wednesday was the UK's hottest June day on record (Image: David Davies, Press Association)

And the roadmap sets out how farmers can reduce reliance on costly inputs such as fertilisers, where costs have climbed following the Iran war, and adapt to the growing climate impacts of heatwaves, drought and flooding through “nature-based solutions” such as improving health of soils and managing water.

The Government’s agri-environmental programme, the environmental land management schemes, will become more focused and targeted, while long-term payments for “public goods” such as creating wildlife habitat will continue.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Farmers feed our nation and manage the land that shapes our countryside, yet their contribution has never been valued in the way it deserves.

“Our roadmap marks a shift away from only looking to the next harvest and towards a plan that gives farmers the long-term clarity they need to innovate, invest and grow with confidence for generations to come.

“I have spent every day in this role rebuilding our relationship with farmers brick by brick because they’re such an important part of our economy, our society and our environment.”

She added: “We are looking at how farming is valued economically and socially to ensure it receives the recognition it deserves,” with only primary agricultural activity currently recorded in official statistics."

Conservative shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said not only was the plan overdue, but she feared it would not be kept on by the next Labour leader.

Ms Atkins said the plan should be focused solely on food production, and criticised the Government for policies that had affected farmers.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Atkins told MPs: “The Secretary of State presents a document for farming for the next 25 years, when this Government won’t last even 25 days.

“Instead of using their 14 years in opposition to create this document they have dithered and delayed for the last two years. But they did not dither and delay in making life harder for rural businesses.”

The long term roadmap comes after a Government-commissioned review by former NFU president Baroness Batters into farm profitability, and ministers say they are taking immediate action in response.

Measures include extending supply chain fair dealing rules to egg producers and fresh produce, opening a new “sustainable farming initiative” application window to all eligible farmers this month, and opening a new £30m farmer collaboration fund this summer.