The Nature-Friendly Farming Network has cautiously welcomed the latest Carbon Budget Reduction Advice, published today, which outlines key actions needed to meet the UK’s climate targets.
While some may see the CCC’s recommendations – such as changing land use to store more carbon and reducing the amounts of greenhouse gas-intensive foods produced – as a challenge, the NFFN believes they are an essential part of future-proofing British farming, enhancing long-term profitability, and safeguarding the environment.
With the industry already facing pressures from tight profit margins, the impact of extreme weather and changes to inheritance tax, adapting to climate solutions could help farmers build resilience and protect their livelihoods. The CCC wants to see widespread adoption of low-carbon farming practices and technologies, including changes to how livestock is kept and machinery powered.
NFFN CEO Martin Lines said, “It is understandable that some farmers may find these recommendations daunting, but they also present new opportunities. By diversifying what we do and developing stronger revenue streams, we can deliver what society needs while building more resilient farm businesses.
“Climate change is already having a huge impact on farms, and the question is whether we adapt and take advantage of new opportunities or face greater risks down the line. Farmers are at the forefront of climate solutions. The most effective way to safeguard the future of farming is to embrace multi-functional landscapes that produce food, prevent flooding, mitigate against extreme weather and restore nature and biodiversity. This is our best chance of creating resilient, viable businesses that can thrive in the long term.
“We must take a holistic approach to farming: considering the benefits of grazing animals for landscapes, nature and soil health, rather than just focusing on emissions.
“Every farmer has a role to play. If some choose not to plant trees or adapt their practices, it increases the pressure on others to make up the difference. We must work together or face greater instability, declining profitability, and a farming sector unprepared for the challenges ahead.”
The NFFN is calling on the CCC to place greater emphasis on the role of nature-friendly farming in restoring soil health and its contribution to carbon sequestration and emissions reductions.
It is also urging for closer collaboration between the CCC and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ensure that the Land Use Framework, currently under consultation, is strategically and coherently aligned with emissions reduction goals.
The NFFN emphasises that multi-functional land use must become the norm as most of the UK’s land can support food production, climate change mitigation and nature restoration at the same time. It also challenges the CCC’s suggestion that farmland should be taken out of agricultural use entirely for tree planting schemes as well-managed woodlands can successfully integrate livestock and tree cover.
The CCC has set a target for agriculture and land use to deliver 7 per cent of the total emissions reductions needed by 2040.