30 Jun 2026
The Government has published a new 25-year Farming Roadmap, setting out its long-term vision for English agriculture to 2050 alongside its formal response to the independent Farming Profitability Review led by Baroness Minette Batters.
Described by ministers as the first long-term plan of its kind for English farming, the roadmap is built around three core priorities:
- Creating profitable and productive farm businesses
- Supporting sustainable farming, and improving resilience to climate change
- Market volatility and other future challenges.
It also aims to provide greater certainty for farmers making long-term investment decisions.
Among the measures announced are additional funding for agricultural innovation, continued Seasonal Worker visas until at least 2030, plans to simplify regulation and digital services, further supply chain reforms, support for greater collaboration through farming co-operatives, and a review of how the economic contribution of agriculture is measured. The roadmap also confirms the continuation and refinement of Environmental Land Management schemes, alongside new measures intended to improve farm profitability and resilience.
The roadmap was accompanied by a statement to Parliament from Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, who said it had been developed in partnership with farmers and was intended to provide long-term direction for the sector.
The announcement prompted a wide-ranging debate in the House of Commons. Opposition parties broadly welcomed the publication of a long-term strategy but raised questions about implementation, funding, farm profitability, food security and support for different types of farm businesses, including tenant and upland farms.
The National Farmers’ Union response to the publication said the roadmap reflected many priorities it had long advocated, including profitability, productivity, sustainability and resilience, but stressed that delivery would now be critical and called for continued investment alongside a strong focus on food security.
