UK Launches Plan to Increase Organic Farmland to 10%
The UK government launched the Organic Action Plan for England to increase organically managed farmland to 10% by 2036.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched the Organic Action Plan for England, a strategy to increase the share of organically managed farmland from 3.4% to 10% by 2036. The plan aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and increase public sector procurement in hospitals and schools to capitalize on a £3.9 billion organic market and reduce reliance on imports.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle stated the initiative is intended to open opportunities for farmers and move organic farming beyond a "niche" status. While the National Farmers’ Union and the English Organic Forum welcomed the plan as a positive step for the supply chain, industry leaders raised concerns regarding financial viability.
Critics pointed to the Sustainable Farming Incentive funding, which was exhausted within six hours in September, leaving many farmers unable to transition. The English Organic Forum warned that without a new ringfenced funding package, farmers may lack the confidence to invest, while the Soil Association called for the reopening of the incentive program to ensure the plan's success.
