English farmland could be cut by 9% to hit green targets

To meet environmental targets 9% of England's farmland will need to be converted into forests and animal habitats, according to new proposals released by the government.

The benchmark was set out in a consultation launched on Friday by Environment Secretary Steve Reed on managing England's land to prioritise food production, net zero targets and nature.

In total, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) predict nearly a fifth of the UK's farming land will need to cut agricultural use but argue greater efficiencies on the remaining land could maintain UK food production at current levels.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour for "adding even more burdens on farmers".

The Land Use Framework was due to be published in 2023 but has faced considerable delays, with the scope and focus of the promised policy changing over time.

The framework was first suggested by 2021 Dimbleby Review on a National Food Strategy, to guide farming incentives and regulations.

On Friday, the government opened a consultation calling for ideas on how England should manage land use changes to balance food security, nature recovery, infrastructure needs and climate goals.

Government analysis shows 1.6 million hectares of farming land to be repurposed for environmental and climate goals by 2050, including:

• 1% making small changes such as planting herbs or other plants along field margins
• 4% incorporating more trees alongside food production
• 5% repurposed mostly for environmental benefits, while still producing food
• 9% removed from food production to make way for the creation of woodland and other natural habitats

Defra say the impact of these land use changes on domestic food production will be offset by productivity improvements.

If domestic production does decline, England may need to import more food, increasing the UK's exposure to global food price shocks and supply chain disruptions.

"England is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world," the report said - with poor farming practices and climate change damaging soil and increasing water pollution.

Better planning under the Land Use Framework would prevent "high-quality farmland" being lost to developers pushing for prime land near urban areas, Defra said.

Under the plans woodland would cover 16.5% of England's land by 2050, with an extra 500,000 hectares of new or restored "wildlife-rich habitat".

Restoration of degraded peatlands would also help cut 8 megatons of CO2 emissions annually, Defra predict.

Badenoch told broadcasters on a visit to a farm in Cheshire she was "worried that we are adding even more burdens on farmers".

She argued the government were "killing farmers in our country" through the introduction of "the family farm tax, the family business tax, the rise in national insurance,".

"To add even more burdens saying that we are going to spend more time on net zero shows they are not serious," Badenoch said.