As the new Defra and farming ministers begin work after the reshuffle, these are the most pressing issues in their in-trays.
It’s all change at Westminster on food and farming following the latest Cabinet reshuffle.
Sir Keir Starmer’s shake-up of his front bench team saw Steve Reed step down as Defra Secretary, while Daniel Zeichner also left government and his post as farming minister.
Their roles have now been taken up by Emma Reynolds, who has become Secretary of State at Defra, and Dame Angela Eagle, who steps into the food and farming role.
With both taking on these responsibilities at such a critical moment for the future of English farming, we’ve outlined what we believe should be their top five priorities.
1.) Rebuild support schemes for nature-friendly farming in England
The new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) needs to be reopened as quicjkly as possible, giving farmers access to support for a wide range of actions that benefit both their businesses and nature. The new ministers must ensure that public money is spent wisely, taking actions that are effectively tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. While all three tiers of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme require attention, the immediate priority must be getting the SFI back up and running.
2.) Unveil a long-term vision for the future of food and farming
The abrupt closure of the SFI to new applicants, combined with the lack of options for farmers whose Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements are ending, has left many farmers in urgent need of support. But the task for the new ministers is not only to provide short-term fixes: they also must set out a longer-term plan for food security and the future of England’s landscape. With pressure from agriculture, nature recovery, renewable energy and more, the Land Use Framework should be prioritised to help guide these complex and sensitive debates.
3.) Work with farmers to improve water quality
The Government has made it clear that tackling issues around water pollution is a key priority - and agriculture undoubtedly has a role to play. However, the ministers must also address the underlying pressures driving current pollution levels, such as the relentless pressure to reduce costs in food production. Farmers need the right support to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, alongside a fair balance of advice and regulation.
4.) Ensure imports do not undercut British farmers
In recent years, politicians have often praised the high standards of British farming while signing trade deals that allow cheaper imports from countries with far lower standards in key areas such as animal welfare and pesticide use. With many farms already in perilous financial positions, farmers need more than warm words from the new ministers. They need decisive action to ensure their work is not undermined by lower-standard imports appearing on supermarket shelves.
5.) Use public procurement to buy nature-friendly farmed products
One immediate way the new ministers could instantly show their support for British nature-friendly farming is by committing public money to it. Making high-quality, sustainable food from regenerative farms available across the public sector - backed by a strong public campaign explaining why this matters - would send a powerful message that nature-friendly farming is valued at the highest levels in Westminster.