LONDON, June 24 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

For the first time in this country's history, the government is today committing to the future of farming beyond the next harvest,endingyears ofuncertaintywith a landmark roadmap that marks the most significant moment for English agriculture since the Second World War.

Farmers produce around 65% of the nation's food, manage 70% of England's land, and underpin the £153 billion agri-food sector recognised as Critical National Infrastructure. Withthe growing impacts of extreme weather and climate,Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Futuresets out howfarmers canadaptthrough nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and watermanagement.

Developed in partnership with farmers, theroadmap sets out how the government will providelong-termstability.Backed by immediateaction fromthe government'sresponse to Baroness MinetteBatters' independent Farming Profitability Review,farmerswill havebetter access tothetools, technology,skillsand supply chainsthey need to invest,innovateand grow.

Collaborative models such as co-operatives will play a much larger role, enabling collective purchasing and joint investment that lower costs, spread risk and support stronger returns.

Anadditional£53 million for the Farming Innovation Programme bringstotal innovation funding this year to £123 million,including dedicated funding roundsfocused on roboticsandsoil health and water management.

Thegovernmentwill alsoreviewhow the economicvalue ofagricultureismeasured,ensuring farming receives the recognition it deserves.A single figure of 0.6% of Gross Value Added is misleading because it captures only primary agricultural activities. Working with the Office for National Statistics,thegovernmentwill look to develop new supplementary statisticstoinclude the wider food supply chain, from processing and manufacturing to distribution and retail.

Seasonal Worker visas will continue until at least 2030, providing reassurance to the UK horticulture sector.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

Farmers feed our nation and manage the land that shapes our countryside, yet their contribution has never been valued in the way it deserves. Our roadmap marks a shift away from only looking to the next harvest and towards a plan that gives farmers the long-term clarity they need to innovate, invest and grow with confidence for generations to come.

I have spent every day in this role rebuilding our relationship with farmers brick by brick because they're such an important part of our economy, our society and our environment. We are looking at how farming is valued economically and socially to ensure it receives the recognition it deserves.

To boost profits andproductivity,the governmentwillwork in partnership with industry tocreateSector Growth Plansstarting withhorticulture and poultryandbring farmers,retailersand investors together onthe Farming and Food Partnership Board.Itwill alsocut EU trade friction through a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreementand give egg and fresh produce growers legal protection against unfair supply chain practices.

To build resilience,theroadmapsets out how farmers can reducereliance on costly inputs like fertiliser through new technology and smarter nutrient managementandadapt to the growing impacts of extreme weather and climate change through nature-based solutions suchasimproved soilhealth and watermanagement.Multiple government serviceswill, over time,be replacedwith a singledigital farming accountto reduce administrative burdens, alongside improved data qualityand standardsto enableaccesstoprivate markets.

On sustainability, Environmental Land Management schemes will become more focused and better targeted, with mitigation and conversion payments phased out over time as good practice becomes standard practice with regulatory standards increasing in some areas, while long-term paymentsfor public goods such as habitat creationwill continue.

While theroadmap sets the long-term direction, thegovernment response to theFarming Profitability Review reflects immediateaction to improve farmprofitability now.Measures being taken forward include:

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Extending supply chain fair dealing regulations to egg producers and fresh produce

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Launching a dedicated task-and-finish group to unlock private sector investment in sustainable farming

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Establishing a new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary area to cut export friction

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Opening the new SFI26 application window to all eligible farmers this month

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Opening the new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund this summer to support groups of farmers to growtheirbusinesses, build partnerships and share best practice

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Transferring the Groceries Code Adjudicator from the Department of Business and Trade to Defra to support a more joined-up approach to food supply chain fairness

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Considering changes to the NationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkfollowing recent consultation,includingproposals tomakethe system more supportive of the infrastructure farmers need.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.