AIC welcomes Defra Transition Plan
On Monday 30th November, the Government announced the process of agricultural transition support for England.
The plan identifies the ways in which farmers and land managers will be support throughout the next 5 years. The includes direct support (BPS) transition, as well as new ELM payments and productivity measures.
“We welcome Defra’s Transition Plan, its framework, reach and its level of ambition”, comments AIC Chief Executive Robert Sheasby.
Announcing The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021-2024, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice emphasised that because these policy developments are aimed at tomorrow’s farmers as well as those of today there was no room for area-based payments.
“We recognise that fundamental changes are going to be made to the way English agricultural businesses are supported”, continues Mr Sheasby, “and we are ready to work with these proposals. In fact we are already involved in delivering one of the ELMs pilots and our members represent a significant pool of the advisors who will be invaluable in delivering the environmental goods, net zero and productivity gains this transition seeks to achieve”.
“However we must make sure that the policy is attributed across all the devolved nations”, concludes Mr Sheasby, “as our competitiveness will be crucial as we move to trading as a sovereign nation. We believe Defra must maintain accessibility to all farmers in as many aspects of the transition plan as possible, ensuring that outcomes on food production are central to the plan. And finally we would like to see clarity in the budget for the period post 2024 as farm businesses will be implementing plans well ahead of that date”
AIC members can find a more detailed member briefing here.
ENDS
About AIC
As the UK agricultural supply industry's leading trade association, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) represents businesses in key sectors within the supply chains that feed the nation.
Its Member businesses supply UK farmers and growers with the animal feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products, trusted advice and quality services that are essential to producing food, as well as trading crops and commodities across the globe.
Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, today AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade and represents £17.8 billion* turnover at farmgate.
AIC works on behalf of its Members by lobbying policymakers and stakeholders, delivering information, providing trade assurance schemes, and offering technical support.
AIC Services manages a range of services, including Trade Assurance Schemes and professional registers recognised by the UK Government as essential means to underpin feed and food safety alongside fertiliser security.
These schemes and professional registers include:
- Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC)
- Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
- Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
- European Seed Treatment Assurance (ESTA)
- Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS)
- Feed Adviser Register (FAR)
- Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
- Forage Assurance Scheme (FAA)
- AIC Services Palm Oil Credit Scheme (APOCS)
*According to a 2023 survey of AIC Members.
Press Contact
Wendy Ford, Communications Manager, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]
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