Nearly a tenth of England’s agricultural land will need to be converted into forests and natural habitats by 2050 to abide with the government’s environmental and climate goals.
The target was outlined in a report launched by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, aimed at balancing food security, ecological restoration, and infrastructure needs. projections from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that nearly 20 percent of the UK’s farmland will have to undergo some form of transformation to meet environmental commitments, but the agency insists that advancements in farming efficiency can sustain current food production levels despite the land conversion, reports the BBC.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch slammed the Kier Starmer Labour government‘s approach, accusing them of “adding even more burdens on farmers” who are already going through hardship.
The Land Use Framework, initially proposed in the 2021 Dimbleby Review on a National Food Strategy, was meant to be published in 2023 but has faced delays. The framework is intended to guide regulations and incentives for farmers, ensuring that land use decisions support food production, environmental recovery, and national development goals.
On Friday, Labour launched a consultation inviting input on how best to manage land use in England while maintaining food security. Defra showed that a structured framework would reduce the likelihood of prime farmland being lost to housing projects or energy developments. Currently, around 70 percent England’s land is dedicated to agriculture. […]
— Read More: humanevents.com
