Defra’s 25-year farming roadmap ‘to ensure fair prices’

Defra secretary Steve Reed has announced plans for a transformative 25-year farming roadmap, which aims to secure the future of British agriculture and ensure farmers are paid fairly for their produce.

Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) annual conference in London on Thursday (21 November), Mr Reed outlined a vision that seeks to make farming both environmentally and financially sustainable, while addressing longstanding frustrations in rural communities.

“The roadmap will be a forward-looking plan for farming. It will make farming and food production more profitable in the years to come,” said Mr Reed. “It will not tell farmers what to do. It will be farmer-led, so they can tell government what they need to make a success of this vital transition.”

See also: Clock ticking on Defra farming resilience fund

The minister said the initiative would allow producers to define their needs and shape the transition to sustainable farming practices.

The 25-year roadmap will complement immediate investments in farming, including a £5bn budget for England over the next two years for sustainable food production.

Key initiatives include bolstering Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and enhancing biosecurity measures to combat threats such as avian influenza and bluetongue.

Supply chain fairness

Mr Reed also highlighted efforts to rebuild trust in food supply chains, promising fairer contracts for growers and producers, and protections against low-welfare trade deals. Other initiatives include reforms in the planning process to help farmers diversify their incomes, and the creation of a rural crime strategy.

“We need to work together to agree what we want British farming to look like in 25 years’ time,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to turn the page on years of decline and give our rural communities the respect and investment they deserve.”

Beyond farming, the roadmap aligns with broader investments in rural infrastructure and services.

The government plans to rebuild “crumbling” flood defences with a £2.4bn allocation over the next two years, support rural housing projects, and strengthen digital and transport connectivity.

Inheritance tax row

The announcement comes as farmer anger boiled over this week at the government’s plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on farm assets worth £1m or more from April 2026.

Mr Reed acknowledged the growing frustrations of farmers over the change, which culminated in a mass rally in London on Tuesday. But he reiterated that the government had no plans to change course.