Sustainability

Following the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) releasing near-final Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) scheme details, with Window 1 opening on 30 June 2026. This blog looks back at how SFI uptake has developed since 2022, and what that tells us about how the scheme has been redesigned.

Defra has published near-final scheme information for the 2026 iteration of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) on GOV.UK. It has also announced that the first application window (Window 1) is likely to open on 30 June 2026.

AIC’s Organic Feed Working Group, alongside representatives from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), recently visited Yeo Valley to see how an integrated, whole-farm system supports productive organic agriculture in practice.

Defra will host a series of events across the country in early to mid-June to provide farmers with the latest policy updates, including information on SFI.

In preparation for the launch of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance to help farmers in England get ready to apply to the scheme when the first application window opens.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has concluded its inquiry into the risks posed by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Farm Carbon Toolkit has developed Farm Carbon Training, a new on‑demand, modular training course, launching later this month.

Effective from January 2027 the Greenhouse Gas Protocol has launched its Land Sector and Removals Standard | GHG Protocol enabling companies to measure, report and track emissions and removals from land use and agriculture as well as specified technological removals.

Defra has launched a new, free online nutrient planning tool, NMPT‑GB . This online tool replaces the existing PLANET v3.3 and MANNER‑NPK nutrient management planning tools.

PackUK has released the first schedule of 2026 Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) fees for packaging, confirming rate increases for most materials.

As part of the Sustainable Foods 2026 programme, AIC Chief Executive Robert Sheasby will chair the Main Plenary session: “Regenerative Agriculture – Pathways to Scale and Finance”

AIC Services are pleased to confirm that our AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) is now published.