The Welsh Government now needs to go further to support farmers through the more ambitious levels of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
NFFN Cymru has secured a significant campaign victory after the Senedd recommended adopting our proposals on soil health for the future development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
The breakthrough was included in the latest ‘Digging the dirt: Improving Wales’ soil health’ report by the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. (You can read the full report here.)
According to NFFN Cymru, the proposals in the report are a good start towards putting soil health at the heart of Welsh agriculture. However, the Welsh Government now needs to go further by rolling out ambitious options for farmers to do more with their soil in the Optional and Collaborative layers of the SFS.
What does the report say?
One of the report’s key conclusions is that “future iterations of the SFS should integrate the Nature Friendly Farming Network’s soil health proposals”. These were submitted to the committee through our written consultation response and in-person evidence at a Soil Health Inquiry.
The report wants soil health and testing data to be shared with farmers, and for voluntary minimum standards for soil health to be introduced - with the option of making these mandatory in the future if progress is insufficient.
The committee also urged the Welsh Government to provide high-quality advice for farmers interested in exploring soil carbon credit markets, alongside more opportunities for tenant farmers to improve their soil health. It further recommended ensuring that the planning process protects high-quality agricultural land for food production.
Additional recommendations include clarifying the GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) standards and reviewing the Agricultural Land Classification maps.
What does NFFN Cymru say?
While the recognition of NFFN Cymru in the corridors of power is welcome, the recommendations in the report are only a first step towards truly recognising the importance of soil health for a future of nature-friendly farming, both for food security and for the wider ecosystem services that help tackle climate change.
There remains considerable scope for the Welsh Government to offer more advanced support to farmers to improve their soil health through the Optional and Collaborative layers of the SFS.
Rhys Evans, NFFN Cymru manager, said: “We are very pleased that the Senedd has listened to our proposals and is now urging the Welsh Government to integrate our soil health recommendations into the SFS as it develops.