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4w ago

UK Government Increases Nature-Friendly Farming Funding as Defra Budget Shrinks

The review secures a £2 billion allocation for ELMS by 2028/29 to back sustainable agriculture despite reductions that could weaken enforcement capacity.

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Caption: The River Frome was subject to 4,058 hours of sewage spills during 2023. Campaigners have said a real-terms cut in Defra funding will hamper efforts to clean filthy rivers (Source: Getty Images)
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Overview

  • ELMS funding will rise from £1.6 billion in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.
  • Defra faces a 0.7% real-terms budget cut with day-to-day resource spending trimmed by about £130 million annually.
  • The Sustainable Farming Incentive closed to applications in March after funds ran out and will not reopen until early next year.
  • Campaigners warn that stretched resources may limit the Environment Agency and Natural England from tackling pollution and enforcing environmental laws.
  • An additional £4.2 billion is earmarked for flood defences between 2026/27 and 2028/29 to bolster resilience.