Farmers ‘need support’ to combat climate change

A lack of resources means farmers need urgent support to help the UK meet its climate change targets, says a report.

Farming has a key role in helping the UK reach its net-zero carbon emission target – but the sector being held back because it is ill-equipped to do so, warns the document.

See also: NFU unveils plans for net zero farming by 2040

Growers and livestock producers also need urgent help to switch to farming systems that will deliver on long-term food security and protect biodiversity, it adds.

The report was published by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) – a 1,000-strong group of farmers, conservationists and their supporters – on Thursday (24 October).

Some 95% of NFFN farmers believe sustainable farming has a key role in helping the UK achieve net-zero status, it says.

But 90% of those surveyed believe the industry is ill-equipped and under-resourced to switch to more sustainable food production methods at scale.

‘Urgent transition’

NFFN chairman and Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines said it was time for nature friendly farming to become mainstream.

“Unless we urgently transition to a farming system that produces sustainable food, reduces emissions, restores habitats and sequesters carbon, farmer livelihoods and future food production will be threatened, and the impacts of climate change will escalate.”

The NFFN says 54% of farmers don’t trust the government to deliver on its pledge to introduce a policy of public money for public goods after Brexit.

And it says half of farmers (49%) do not believe that an expected £3bn will be enough to ensure that producers are able to protect the environment.

Conservation groups have voiced support for the NFFN.

‘Vital role’

RSPB head of land-use policy Thomas Lancaster said the network was playing a vital role in raising awareness of the need to tackle the “nature and climate emergencies”.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Nick Rau said: “The NFFN is showing how agriculture can help fix the climate emergency, reverse nature decline and produce high quality food.

“By adopting nature friendly solutions such as more trees on farms, less intensive and better quality meat and dairy we can work towards a farming system that is better for the planet.”

Defra said farmers were “crucial” to helping the UK reach the net zero target.

Agricultural policy was being reformed and millions of pounds were being allocated to help farmers take action that locked up carbon and cut emissions, it said.