Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
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 AI-generated
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.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The Government acknowledges the Committee’s recommendation concerning the urgent need for a clear and coherent vision for the farming sector, encompassing food security and the future of the Farming and Countryside Programme. The Government recognises the importance of setting out a long-term strategic framework to guide farming policy and support mechanisms. Defra is currently developing the 25-year Farming Roadmap, which will provide a vision for our farming sector and set the direction for how we get there, with a focus on delivering our food security and environmental objectives and supporting farms to be resilient and profitable. The Roadmap will bring together existing and emerging farming policies and programmes into a unified strategy, outlining how they will collectively contribute to measurable outcomes for food security, environmental sustainability and rural prosperity. The Government is committed to ensuring that the Roadmap reflects the views and needs of stakeholders across the farming and countryside sectors. Defra continues to engage with farmers, industry representatives, environmental organisations and rural communities to inform the development of the Roadmap. This collaborative approach will help ensure that the vision is both ambitious and achievable and that it supports a resilient and productive farming sector. The Government intends to publish the 25-year Farming Roadmap later this year. The Government remains committed to protecting food security, enhancing environmental outcomes and supporting the farming sector through a period of significant change.
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