The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) has welcomed discussion at the Labour Conference suggesting that the long-awaited strategic Land Use Framework will be published in November, saying it is an important step towards a more sustainable farming future.
The farmer-led organisation is urging the government to ensure the Framework has the ambition needed to secure a resilient and economically strong agricultural sector capable of facing major challenges such as the impact of climate change.
NFFN Chief Executive, Martin Lines, said, “A strategic Land Use Framework is crucial for the UK’s food security and for helping farmers achieve their environmental goals. It will enable them to optimise their land for multiple purposes, potentially increasing revenue streams while supporting practices like agroforestry, which enhance biodiversity and maintain food production.”
To further this aim, the NFFN urges the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary, Steve Reed, to resist financial cuts to farming.
The previous administration’s £130 million underspend on agriculture exposed a failure to drive the farming transition effectively, highlighting the urgent need for decisive government action.
Recent NFFN survey results show widespread alarm among nature-friendly farmers about the impact of climate change on their businesses, reflecting broader concerns amid new analysis suggesting Britain is facing one of its worst harvests on record. The survey also revealed a shocking lack of confidence in Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and his cabinet’s support for the farming sector.
Lines said, “We need a farming budget that is fit for purpose. It is now evident that current spending levels will fall short of meeting the government’s own environmental protection targets.
“We urgently need a clear and ambitious vision for the future of farming, alongside a well-funded, transparent roadmap to deliver it. This includes investing in land management schemes that offer the greatest benefit to nature. Our survey makes it clear that nature-friendly farmers are feeling squeezed by climate change causing havoc to their businesses. They produce high-quality, sustainable food, care for nature and support biodiversity, yet they are not adequately rewarded for their efforts.”