3
Accepted
Present clearer exposition of government's vision and credible plans for the farming sector.
Conclusion
Farms are professional businesses and remain adaptable to change, but they must plan for changes well in advance with confidence about the future environment they will be operating in. We have concerns that the Department has not yet demonstrated that it is sufficiently alive to the urgency of setting out a clear direction for the sector nor has it fully considered or calculated the impact of recent policy decisions on morale, confidence and rural mental health. A clearer exposition of the Government’s vision and credible plans for implementation should be presented by Ministers and senior officials. (Conclusion, Paragraph 12) 31
Government Response Summary
The government committed to providing more information on the reformed SFI offer later this summer, outlining its core vision and budget controls. It also appointed Baroness Minette Batters to lead a review of farming profitability, supported by a new team.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government has committed to providing more information about the reformed SFI offer later this summer. As set out in a Written Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs on 12 March 2025, the reformed SFI scheme will: • deliver the Government’s vision of a sector with food production at its core, supporting less resilient farm businesses while ensuring nature recovery • ensure we deliver value for money for taxpayers as we invest in sustainable food production and nature recovery • have a clear budget set and put in place strong budgetary controls so that SFI is affordable • better target SFI actions fairly and effectively, focusing on helping less productive land contribute to our priorities for food, farming and nature The analysis and recommendations set out in the Committee’s report will be considered in the development of the next steps and future communications on reformed SFI. The Government is also working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design the reformed SFI offer. Additionally, Baroness Minette Batters, former NFU president and current farmer, has been appointed by Defra Secretary of State to lead a review of farming profitability. The work will be supported by the newly formed Farming Profitability Review Team within Defra. Baroness Batters’ review will sit alongside the work of the Food Strategy, Farming Roadmap and the Land Use Framework. It will build on the review of Defra’s regulatory landscape (led by Dan Corry) and wider Government missions and priorities – including growth.
Source
Inquiry
The future of farming
Report
1st Report - The Government’s vision for farming
16 May 2025
HC 906
Timeline
Recommendation age
1.0 yr
Report published
16 May 2025