21 Deferred

Current soil regulations contain significant gaps both within and particularly outside of agriculture.

Conclusion
Current soil regulations contain significant gaps both within and particularly outside of agriculture. Historically, regulations have seen soil as a medium and vector for the pollution of other natural assets, so a wide array of soil health aspects are not protected. This situation is likely to get worse as Cross Compliance is phased out in 2024. While we acknowledge that most farmers want to do the right thing, a new soil protections legislative framework is needed as a backstop to address gaps, enforce the ‘polluter pays’ principle, and establish minimum acceptable standards for those who choose not to engage with the voluntary ELM schemes.
Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to a new soil protection legislative framework, instead outlining existing and planned initiatives focused on providing funding, advice, and skills training to farmers for nutrient and pest management, and developing a Green Jobs Plan.
Paragraph Reference
78
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government Deferred
We are mandating industry recognised standards as part of the SFI funding offer to ensure farmers receive quality assured, specialist expertise that they need to implement nutrient management and integrated pest management actions. Over 18,000 farmers have received business advice through the Farming Resilience Fund, and we will continue to fund free business advice until March 2025 to help increase profitability and deliver on environmental outcomes, access carbon audits and natural capital assessments. We are supporting feasibility and planning for more complex activities with targeted financial support and are working with relevant arms-length bodies (ALBs) to develop the roles of Defra group ALB advisers to improve local join up and consistency. This will enable them to aid understanding and uptake of funding opportunities in their local context, supported in tandem with the improved facilitation fund to provide farmers with joined up access to expertise, advice and support. We are working with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) to support the agricultural sector in understanding and meeting its own skill and training needs. We are introducing a T-Level for agriculture so young people can access the skills and information they need to move into the agricultural sector. Furthermore, we are working with DESNZ, DfE, DWP, IfATE and sector leaders to develop and publish a Green Jobs Plan. The Plan will set out government and industry actions to help ensure the UK has the skilled workforce required for the green transition. A number of sectoral task and finish groups have contributed evidence on skills and employment needs and are working across their sectors to drive action. This includes a task and finish group focussed on Nature, chaired by the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). The Plan will be published later this year.
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.5 yrs
Report published 05 Dec 2023