New analysis has shown that the UK’s agricultural efforts to reach net zero will suffer a significant setback if post Brexit environment-friendly subsidies are not delayed for two more years.
The National Farmers Union (NFU), is Forcing the government Delay Environmental Land Management schemes (Elms), and keep the EUs Basic Payment Schemes(BPS) in place for the interim period. This scheme pays farmers for the amount that they own, regardless how it affects the environment.
Representatives claim this is to provide stability in a turbulent time for UK farmers. With the price of fertiliser rising due to the Ukraine war, Covid staff shortages, the departure EU seasonal workers and other Brexit-related issues, representatives say it is to provide some stability. Jim McMahon (Labour shadow Defra Secretary) Supported the NFUs position.
The analysis by Green Alliance, a thinktank, shows that delaying Elms as the main means of helping farmers to decarbonise would result in agricultural emissions savings of half the amount if the Elms program was delivered on schedule. Since emissions savings are cumulative, this would make it more difficult for other areas to decarbonise faster to make up this loss. This would leave a significant gap in UK’s net zero plans. According to the report.
According to the governments of Canada and the United States, agriculture, forestry and other land uses need to reduce their emissions by 25% by 2030, and by a third, by 2035. proposed net zero pathway. Dustin Benton (Policy Director at Green Alliance) said that the flagship Elms program is responsible for a third cut in farming emissions. Six years after the referendum, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or Defra, has been slow to implement the promises made by the government to support the UK’s leading farmers in making their farms more sustainable.
The UK’s climate targets would be at risk if reforms to farming payments are delayed for another two years. This would also undermine a transition that some of the UK’s most successful farmers have already invested in. It would be better for Defra if it continued to help farmers build a system of nature-positive, carbon-negative food systems ahead of the competition.
According to the Green Alliance report, small and less profitable farms are more likely to be affected by the rising cost of diesel and fertiliser. This makes it necessary for them not only to shift away from BPS but also to reduce their dependence on these inputs. Profit was increased by reducing inputs like fertiliser [for these farms]The report states that this was true even before the recent price rise. Many of these farms are rich in natural capital but lack high-yielding land suitable for food production. These small farms would be paid for the public goods [in the form of nature]If they can make improvements on their farms, it would likely increase farm profitability in comparison to BPS.
The original Elms launch date was 2020. However, delays have occurred. Already criticisedby the public accounting committee. Minette Batters, leader of the NFU, criticized the government for repeatedly running into crisis due to the lack of post-Brexit industry planning. She claimed that it had a complete lack of understanding about how food production works.
According to reports, many farmers have little faith in the government’s ability to manage the transition.
Claire Robinson, senior countryside adviser at NFU, stated that British farmers are determined to make a contribution to the climate crisis and have a goal to be net zero by 2040. The conflict in Ukraine has caused food production costs to soar around the world. We need to give businesses the confidence they can continue to produce food.
BPS reductions as planned would endanger what is for many farmers the only hope of survival, and when the replacement is not yet available. The government and farmers can work together more effectively to develop durable policies and schemes that meet our ambitions to be a global leader in climate-friendly agriculture and food.
Victoria Prentis, the minister for agriculture, told the Guardian that Defra will not delay the implementation of Elms. Subsidy based on area gave half the budget to farmers to 10% of landowners. BPS did little to support food production and was not able to reverse the decline in nature. We must seize this opportunity to create a new system of incentives and rewards in agriculture. I am happy that we are supporting farmers in making the right choices for their holdings.
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