Government ensures food production remains primary purpose of farming
The government is introducing new measures to limit the amount of land farmers can take out of productive actions under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
New measures reaffirming how our environmental land management schemes work alongside food production by limiting the amount of land farmers can take out of productive actions under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have been announced today (Monday 25 March).聽聽
While there has been only limited evidence to date of farmers entering large amounts of their land into actions that take away food production, some of these actions were being used more than intended in a small number of cases. The changes will ensure the scheme continues to support farmers to produce food sustainably alongside improving the environment. 聽聽
The scheme is designed to have maximum flexibility and to be simple to apply for, however we always said we would learn and adapt as new information became available. So, following feedback from the farming community, which has been considered throughout the development of SFI, there is consensus on the need to put in place some targeted restrictions. 聽聽
Under the changes, SFI applicants will only be able to put 25% of their land into six SFI actions that take land out of direct food production. The actions are:聽聽聽
- Flower-rich grass margins聽聽聽
- Pollen and nectar flower mix聽聽聽
- Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land聽聽聽
- Grassy field corners and blocks聽聽聽
- Improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management聽聽聽
- Winter bird food on improved grassland.聽聽聽
The six actions will continue to play an important role in supporting sustainable food production聽but were always intended to be implemented on smaller areas of the farm - something the new measures will protect. 聽聽聽
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:聽聽聽
鈥淔ood production is the primary purpose of farming and today we are taking action to clarify this principle.聽聽聽
鈥淭he six actions we are capping were always intended to be implemented on smaller areas of land, and these changes will help to maintain this intention and continue our commitment to maintain domestic food production.鈥澛犅�
The UK鈥檚 farming schemes pay farmers to take actions that improve the environment alongside sustainable food production. SFI has been popular with farmers and to date we have received over 15,000 applications and issued over 14,000 agreement offers.聽The vast majority of land in the scheme continues to produce food 鈥� SFI pays farmers to do this in a more sustainable, resilient way that鈥檚 good for both food production and the environment. 聽聽
Other measures the government is taking to protect food security and ensure we continue to produce at least 60% of the food we consume here in the UK include a new annual UK-wide Food Security Index to capture and present the data needed to monitor levels of food security and a commitment to hold the Farm to Fork Summit annually.聽聽聽
More information regarding the timing of the implementation of the cap will be released in the coming weeks.