In a speech during Groundswell, Mr Reed reiterated the government's stance that 鈥渇ood security is national security", saying that he believes ELMs is the best tool to support farmers to transition to sustainable food production and profitability.
He committed to providing more details of Defra's reformed SFI offer 鈥渓ater this summer鈥�, with applications due to start in the New Year. The reformed offer would be simplified he said, with an upgraded IT system to make it easier to submit applications, and will focus on the principle of public money for public goods.
Farmers will be able to take on packages of actions, although NFU Deputy President David Exwood has said any discussion on targeting and packaging "must be based on clear evidence" as "choice and flexibility were why SFI worked for farmers".聽
鈥淐hoice and flexibility were why SFI worked for farmers and so any discussion about targeting and packaging must be based on clear evidence.鈥�
NFU Deputy President David Exwood
Simple and accessible
David Exwood added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to hear the Defra Secretary reaffirm his commitment to ELMs and the principle of rewarding farmers for the public goods they deliver for the environment while producing food for the nation.
鈥淪FI was always meant to be a simple, accessible scheme that supports work to improve the environment alongside food production. We will continue to engage with Defra to discuss how this can be achieved, provided there is openness and transparency.鈥�
The Defra Secretary said there would be 鈥渧isibility of the overall budget so we get it out the door and you know when it鈥檚 going to be fully allocated鈥�. He said the 25-year farming roadmap would outline the government's shared vision for the sector and set the direction for how we get there.
Lack of clarity
鈥淲hile the Defra Secretary鈥檚 remarks are broad, they lack the clarity needed as cashflow pressures mount and direct payments rapidly decline,鈥� NFU Deputy President David Exwood responded.
鈥淔armers now need to see detail on the future shape of SFI so they can better understand how it will work for them.聽
鈥淲e firmly share Defra鈥檚 ambition to support profitable and sustainable farm businesses. Achieving that goal depends on making the SFI scheme work for all farmers, regardless of size, sector, or location. If the aim is for SFI to help farming deliver environmental benefits, then excluding large areas of English farmland from the scheme would be counterproductive.鈥�
