Farmland in England to be eliminated to meet green objectives

In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Land Use Framework consultation was launched by Environment Secretary Steve Reed on Friday, 31st January 2022. The consultation, which was originally earmarked for publication in 2023, was initiated to set out a strategic approach to how land across England should be used to balance goals such as environmental sustainability, food production, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation.

The Land Use Framework consultation is a part of the National Food Strategy, first suggested by the 2021 Dimbley Review. The National Food Strategy aims to ensure a resilient, sustainable, and fair food system at a national scale, likely recommending reforms in agriculture, land use, and food production.

The consultation suggests that 1.6 million hectares of England's farmland needs to be repurposed to meet legal environmental and climate targets by 2050. To achieve this, the proposed changes include reducing grassland for livestock rearing, planting more trees, and repurposing land for woodlands and other natural habitats.

Brendan Costelloe, policy director at the Soil Association, has welcomed the launch of the Land Use Framework consultation. Mr. Costelloe has emphasized the importance of creating landscapes that deliver multifunctional synergies, reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, and restoring soils. He has also expressed that the Government's intent to protect good quality agricultural land is appreciated, but the way land is farmed will determine the success of avoiding unnecessary trade-offs between food, nature, and climate.

Ministers have created maps of England showing potential areas for nature restoration and optimal farming locations. However, it should be noted that the government does not have control over how farmers decide to use their spaces.

The Land Use Framework consultation aligns with broader UK government goals of environmental sustainability within land and food policy. Defra's ongoing attention to biodiversity net gain, soil health, and integrated climate adaptation suggests that this framework will have major implications for biodiversity net gain policies and habitat restoration, sustainable farming practices, balancing development pressures with environmental protection, and integrating climate adaptation and resilience into land use planning.

The UK is currently 62% self-sufficient for food, down from a high of 78% in 1984. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has suggested that farmland that is frequently flooded should not be used for growing food and could be restored for nature. The Soil Association has been advocating for a land use framework for years to provide clarity and confidence for nature-friendly farmers and land-users.

The Land Use Framework consultation is a crucial step towards a more sustainable future, balancing the needs of infrastructure, nature, and carbon targets with food production and biodiversity enhancement. The consultation is open for public engagement and contributions, inviting stakeholders including farmers, environmental groups, developers, and local communities to shape future land management policies.

The Land Use Framework consultation is scheduled to strategy for managing England's land, integrating goals such as environmental sustainability, food production, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation.
To align with the National Food Strategy and achieve legal environmental and climate targets by 2050, the consultation proposes repurposing 1.6 million hectares of farmland, decreasing grassland for livestock rearing, increasing woodlands and natural habitats, and planting more trees.
Brendan Costelloe, policy director at the Soil Association, commends the Land Use Framework consultation, emphasizing the importance of creating multi-functional landscapes, reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, and restoring soils for better farming practices.
The consultation's success will depend on how farmers use their spaces, as Ministers have only created maps indicating potential nature restoration and optimal farming locations.
Beyond food and land policy, the Land Use Framework consultation is expected to influence biodiversity net gain policies, habitat restoration, sustainable farming practices, balancing development pressures with environmental protection, and integrating climate adaptation and resilience into land use planning.
In a strive for personal-growth and education-and-self-development, environmental groups, farmers, developers, and local communities are invited to engage and contribute to the Land Use Framework consultation, as it steers England towards a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly future by balancing infrastructure, nature, carbon targets, and food production with biodiversity enhancement.