The Water Conservators were invited to participate in the launch of a report by the Green Alliance on how Farmers are navigating the agricultural transition and the water and environmental significance.
The meeting opened with an encouraging presentation from the Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries of United Kingdom, Daniel Zeichner. He emphasised that food production was central to farming, encouraged diversity and that nature is critical to sustainable food production. There was a strong emphasis on nature based solutions.
The report noted that subsidies farmers once received under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, based on the area they farmed, are being phased out up to 2027. This system is gradually being replaced with a new one of payments for ‘public goods’, such as flood protection and supporting nature restoration, through new Environment Land Management (ELM) schemes.
This new policy is of interest to members of the Company as it could significantly help farms to meet national climate and nature commitments. It could make the average farmer better off and distribute funding more fairly, given the previous policy paid over half its funding to the largest ten per cent of landowners.
The report drew on insights from visits to six farms across England which faced considerable challenges but the farmers also saw opportunities. You can find a copy of the report Farming at a crossroads: how farmers are navigating the agricultural transition here.
Some of the farmers participated in a discussion which included the benefits of catchment management and partnership working. The challenge was to engage more with the water companies.
It was a great opportunity to network with representatives of major environmental NGOs, food companies, academics and other Company members.
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