Nature could help profits, study claims

It has been warned that food security and agricultural businesses will be at risk unless government policy helps farmers shift to naturefriendly farming methods.

A report from the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) drawing on evidence from more than 40 farm businesses shows farming with nature is more profitable – and helps wildlife thrive.

The farmer- led group wants policies that deliver long-term funding, strong environmental regulations and certainty against being undercut by cheap imports.

It comes as polling suggests more than eight in 10 people want policies that support UK farmers to not just maintain but improve the environment and wildlife on farms.

Three-quarters (75%) of the 2,083 people polled by Opinium said they wanted public money to help farmers produce healthy soil, food and landscapes and help wildlife flourish, and 70% do not want taxpayers’ cash to reward “business as usual” approaches.

The report highlights how nature provides farmers with natural assets including soil, grass and water that they use to produce food.

But when land is pushed beyond its natural production limit, with high levels of livestock or cropping more than the soil can support, it requires extra inputs, including fertilisers and medicines and farms degrade the natural assets.

This increases overall production costs and risks reducing the profitability of the farm business.

Martin Lines, a farmer and NFFN chairman, warned pushing production beyond the capacity of the landscape will wipe out nature and farm businesses.

“The survival of all farming businesses depends on a healthy environment,” he said.

“This report demonstrates that unless farming policy raises environmental standards and helps farmers transition to nature-friendly approaches, future food security and the agriculture industry are at risk.

“With the development of post-Brexit polices in motion, governments can and must be bold and deliver longterm solutions now so farmers can build sustainable and resilient farm businesses that produce healthy food and protect nature for future generations.”

POLICY: A new study says farms that safeguard nature can be more profitable.