UK Livestock Farmers Could Profit From Environmental Improvements

New research suggests English livestock farmers could improve their long-term financial viability by shifting focus from meat production to environmental perform. The analysis comes as UK meat consumption declines and government support for traditional farming methods evolves.

Declining Meat Consumption and Shifting Support Schemes

UK meat consumption has been steadily decreasing over the past two decades. According to the Green Alliance, consumption of lamb has dropped almost nine times more than production, while beef and pork consumption have declined by 14% and 13% respectively. Despite this decline, meat production has continued to rise, with beef production increasing by 29% and pork by 35% since 2000.

This trend coincides with a significant change in government support for farmers. The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), established under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), will end in 2027 and be replaced by the UK’s Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM).

Opportunities in Environmental Land Management

The Green Alliance report highlights that the ELM scheme presents an opportunity for livestock farmers to increase profitability by reducing meat production and dedicating more resources to environmental improvement activities. These activities include habitat creation and peatland restoration. The report argues that with appropriate government support, farmers can earn profits by reducing livestock numbers and aligning production with lower consumption levels.

Benefits of this transition extend beyond farm incomes, potentially improving public health, the environment, and overall resilience. Restoring wildlife, improving water quality, and preventing flooding are all cited as potential benefits.

The Need for Regulation and Sustainable Practices

The analysis indicates a growing disconnect between UK meat consumption and production. As farms continue to expand, the Green Alliance emphasizes the need for regulations to mitigate negative impacts on health and the environment. These policies should aim to reduce consumption and prevent the offshoring of environmental impacts through increased imports.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends limiting red and processed meat intake to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has also set targets to reduce meat and dairy consumption by 50% by 2050 to achieve the country’s net-zero goals.

Recommendations for a Sustainable Food Strategy

The Green Alliance recommends that the government’s food strategy prioritize access to affordable plant-based foods and facilitate a faster decline in meat consumption than domestic production. They also advocate for a land-use framework to direct ELM spending towards areas with low food production, limited farm profitability, and high potential for generating public goods.

Industry Response

David Exwood, Deputy Director of Agriculture at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), stated the need for policies that improve competitiveness and profitability, emphasizing their importance for successful and resilient farming operations, as well as achieving environmental objectives and the government’s economic growth targets. LinkedIn

FarmingUK and Protein Production Technology also reported on the Green Alliance findings.