The world is facing a climate emergency and we can see evidence of this all around through increased incidents of flooding, fire, and drought. This is threatening the sustainable production of food itself and puts all our livelihoods at risk. We also know that farming contributes to Greenhouse Gas emissions. UK Agriculture contributed 10% to total greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 – including 70% of nitrous oxide emissions and nearly half of total methane emissions. Thus, farming has a key role in helping the UK meet its Net Zero emissions target by 2050. Farmers know their farms, the soil and terrain, and whether a field is better suited to crops or grazing livestock. They understand what works for the piece of land they nurture. And it is a long-term relationship often lasting for generations.

Farmers are the key

So how can farmers take an active role in helping to tackle the climate crisis through sustainable practices? Can agriculture contribute to climate goals, produce food sustainably and at the same time maintain their livelihoods? Farming is a sustainable part of the solution to climate change, as it is both an emissions source and a sink. Net zero means removing as much carbon from the atmosphere as is we create. Crops can convert carbon dioxide in the air into plant matter using photosynthesis. By using climate-smart tools and practices, farmers can help crops remove even more carbon. Farmers regularly manage biological and natural resources and have skills and knowledge of the natural environment to tackle environmental and climate-related problems. It can be argued that keeping high environmental standards within the UK and increased reliance on food imports simply leads to a situation where the UK’s emissions are exported. However, many of the changes needed are win-win – e.g., the adoption of precision farming, more efficient livestock breeding and health can enhance profitability as well as sustainability.

Is Net Zero possible?

The shift to sustainability is happening for several reasons. Governments have set targets through initiatives such as the COP to reach net zero. Major food companies and brands have promised to cut their greenhouse emissions and they are pushing for changes on the farm — and sometimes paying for such changes. For example, Nestle The world’s biggest food manufacturer, detailed its net-zero plans in December 2020. This was a year after committing to being greenhouse gas emissions-free by 2050. The company claims it has a “network” of more than 500,000 farmers and 150,000 suppliers with whom it can implement regenerative farming as a way of cutting its emissions. Farmers would be paid for making the move to net zero, either directly by the government or by corporations that seek to offset, or cancel out, their own emissions (insetting). Carbon sequestration could be worth as much as £1.7 billion. This is half the total value of public subsidies for agriculture, says environmental think tank Green Alliance.

What about Government Support for Net Zero?

So, what does the government need to do to support the transition to sustainability? In the UK farming policy is devolved with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments developing their own policies and the UK government developing policies for England. All are however going in the direction of greater support for providing environmental outcomes and enhancing the sustainability of farming systems. Within England, DEFRA is introducing grants to help farmers invest in technology, equipment, and innovation. This will help farmers:

• Improve farm productivity;
• Try out and adopt innovative technology and practices;
• Improve the climate, environment, and animal health and welfare.

These are things that the public and consumers care about, and are within the gift of the stewards of our land: our farmers. Ongoing payments will be for producing environmental benefits.