In this issue of Landscope we analyse the key elements of the Powering Up Britain policy paper and the Nature Markets Framework.

It has also been announced that the UK will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is perhaps the first post-Brexit trade agreement to be welcomed by rural lobbyists. Whilst in both Scotland and Wales licensing proposals have been put forward which will affect field sports interests.

FOOD & FARMING

Food tsar resigns
Henry Dimbleby, the government’s ‘food tsar’, has resigned. The co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain said ministers have adopted an “ultra-free-market ideology” leading to a lack of action on junk food consumption. He said the Conservative party had lost its way and feared being seen as a nanny state, particularly in red wall constituencies. Henry Dimbleby carried out a comprehensive review of the food system that called for, amongst other measures, a 30% cut to meat consumption by 2032. The government responded with its food strategy in June 2022, a strategy that was promptly criticised by Mr Dimbleby for failing to implement enough of his recommendations.

Farm of the future
Poultry producer Moy Park has unveiled a state-of-the-art poultry farm in Lincolnshire. Beech Farm uses ground source heat pumps to generate heating, heat exchanger systems to reduce overall heat usage, and solar technology capable of generating 1MW of electricity, which will be supported by battery storage. These technologies mean the farm can effectively go ‘off grid’ when all systems are operating at capacity, reducing Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 100%. Moy Park intends to use Beech Farm as a blueprint to reach net zero across its estate, with over 700 farming partners in the UK. The firm is also tackling Scope 3 emissions through real time monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions across its entire farming estate.

Animal Health and Welfare grant
Applications have now opened for grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 to contribute to the cost of items which improve the health and welfare of livestock. The Animal Health and Welfare theme is part of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, the other theme being the Productivity and Slurry theme which opened in February. To obtain an Animal Health and Welfare grant an expression of interest must be completed first and then an application via the portal, which will remain open until midday on 15 June. If you would like to discuss Farming Equipment and Technology Fund grants please contact Georgina Sweeting.

Farm rules easier to find
The UK government has created a single page which provides a signpost to all mandatory rules and laws which apply to farmers and land managers in England. The page is sorted by activities, such as keeping livestock or use of pest control product.

POLICY

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
To implement recommendations initially set out in 2019’s Werritty review, the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill has entered the Scottish parliament. It aims to end the illegal killing of raptors and also ensure grouse moors are run in a sustainable way, without negatively impacting animal welfare. The provisions in the Bill will ban the use and purchase of glue traps, introduce licensing for the use of certain wildlife traps and create a licencing system for land on which the killing or taking of certain birds is to take place. At this point the latter provision relates to the licensing of land for shooting red grouse. Part 2 of the Bill regulates the making of muirburn by extending the licencing system; it now requires a muirburn licence at all times of the year and on any land on which muirburn is to be made. The Bill will repeal and replace the current legal regime for muirburn in the Hill Farming Act 1946 and also criminalises breaching the licensing regime for managers as well as those starting the fire.

Nature Markets Framework and guarding against greenwashing
Hot on the heels of the Climate Change Committee’s damning assessment of agriculture’s stalling transition to net zero comes a long-called for Nature Markets Framework for the UK, setting out how farmers and land managers can step up to the challenge of delivering net zero and nature recovery. The framework contains some important principles that will shape the emerging private market opportunities for ecosystem service solutions with the intention of scaling the market to meet aspirational targets for nature. For full analysis of the implications of the framework see our Briefing Note.

To feed into the market rules element of the framework, the British Standards Institution (BSI) has announced a new ‘nature investment standards programme’ to encourage high integrity markets and protect against greenwashing. In a joint announcement with Defra, the BSI explained the “discovery phase” of the Nature Investment Standards Programme will run until the end of May, with the overall programme due to run for three years. The programme will work with the devolved administrations and other stakeholders in an effort to “mobilise investment into the natural environment and prioritise clean growth”.

Powering Up Britain
Powering Up Britain is the latest blueprint for the future of energy in the UK. The document was drawn up after the High Court ruled the government's existing plans were not sufficient to meet its obligations under the Climate Change Act. According to the government, the strategy brings together the Energy Security Plan and Net Zero Growth Plan to explore how both decarbonisation and energy security targets can be simultaneously achieved.

The strategy has already faced harsh criticism from academics and environmental groups. One of the original High Court complainants, Friends of the Earth said it may return to the High Court. Dr Chris Jones, an expert in climate change at the University of Manchester, said "the regressive measures on fossil fuels won't make any real impact on our bills and energy security, but they are enough to downgrade the UK's role as a leader in tackling climate change”.

It is a multifaceted plan, commenting on various areas from nuclear power to carbon capture to decarbonising transport, with some of these areas having consequent implications for the rural sector:

• To facilitate large scale ground-mounted solar deployment the government confirms it will not make any changes to the best and most versatile agricultural land planning rules which would constrain solar deployment

• The Great British Insulation Scheme will fund energy efficiency improvements for the lowest income households and houses in lower council tax bands

• There will be a consultation during 2023 covering how to improve the efficiency of owner-occupied homes

• The strategy acknowledges Chris Skidmore’s recommendation in the Independent Review of Net Zero to ban gas boilers by 2033, rather than 2035 and commits to consider the measure further

• A consultation has been launched on introducing a carbon border tax and the strategy aims to set out a long term pathway for the UK Emissions Trading Scheme by the end of the year.

You can read a longer summary of the Powering Up Britain Strategy in our Briefing Note.

Genetic Technology Act
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act has passed into law. The Act aims to allow farmers to grow crops and breed animals that have undergone precision breeding to create beneficial traits such as resistance to disease. Precision breeding includes genetic editing (GE) technologies, a technique that makes changes within the organism's own DNA by moving, adding or deleting precise pieces of genetic material. Such changes are only those which could have occurred randomly in conventional breeding or by inducing mutations through chemicals or radiation. GE is more precise in inducing these alterations and is different from genetic modification (GM) in that it does not insert non-native DNA into an organism. Further background on the distinction between GE and GM is available in this blog.

The Act has powers to:

• Remove organisms produced through precision breeding technologies from regulatory requirements applicable in England

• Introduce two notification systems; one for precision bred organisms used for research purposes and the other for marketing purposes

• Establish a proportionate regulatory system for precision bred animals to ensure animal welfare is safeguarded

• Establish a new science-based authorisation process for food and feed products derived from precision bred organisms.

Mairi Gougeon retains rural role
Scotland’s new First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has unveiled his new cabinet and revealed Mairi Gougeon will retain the role of rural affairs minister. It follows news Kate Forbes, runner-up to Mr Yousaf for the SNP leadership role, turned down the position, preferring to return to the back benches. Most believe Ms Forbes would have seen the move from Finance Secretary to Rural Affairs as a demotion or would have been averse to working with the Scottish Green Party owing to an already poor relationship. Ms Gougeon will therefore remain in the role she has held since May 2021, though with her brief expected to be expanded to include land reform.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL CAPITAL

Wildcats to be released
Up to 20 wildcats will be released into the Scottish Highlands every year. NatureScot has approved a licence to release the cats into the Cairngorms National Park, with the first release happening as early as June this year. NatureScot’s head of biodiversity, Dr Katherine Leys, noted there were still obstacles to overcome before the first release. Even then, she said the project must continue to work with local communities, farmers, landowners and cat owners to ensure wildcats are given the best chance to survive and thrive.

Consultation on licencing gamebird releasing
Natural Resources Wales has launched a consultation on proposals to license gamebird releasing in Wales. It proposes to move pheasant and red-legged partridge onto Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which would make it illegal to release these gamebirds, except under licence. Natural Resources Wales proposes the release would be permitted under a General Licence, one that does not need to be applied for and does not incur any cost. The general licence would specify maximum release pen densities of 1,000 pheasants per hectare of release pen, reducing to 700 per hectare in sensitive sites (e.g., ancient semi-natural woodland). This licence would not cover designated sites such as SSSIs; those wishing to release within a 500m of these sites or within the sites themselves would have to apply for a specific licence.

PROPERTY & DEVELOPMENT 

Green Finance Strategy
The UK wants to become the world’s first ‘net-zero financial centre’. The government has outlined the steps necessary to achieve the goal in the Green Finance Strategy. Much of the strategy reiterates green finance measures that have already been announced or implemented, however there are several new updates:

• Green finance taxonomy is still being considered, specifically whether a transition class should be included. Green finance taxonomies outline which investments governments consider ‘green’ and can include both mandatory and voluntary stipulations

• A review will be commissioned into how the government can scale the UK’s transition finance market. An external expert will lead the review

• Two advisory committees on integrated sustainability reporting will be established; one being government-led and the other independently chaired

• The government will update its Environmental Reporting Guidelines to include guidance on collecting and reporting Scope 3 emissions.

Powers to evict unruly tenants
Landlords in England will be able to evict tenants with two weeks’ notice if they are disruptive to neighbours, cause damage or fall behind on their rent. The measures will be introduced as part of government plans to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Presently, landlords must prove that anti-social behaviour has already occurred before an eviction is permitted. The new plans have clarified that any behaviour “capable” of causing “nuisance or annoyance” can also now lead to eviction. Judges will be required to consider the impact on both neighbours and landlords and whether the tenant has engaged with interventions to manage behaviour. The changes will be contained in the forthcoming Renters Reform Bill which is also due to ban section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

The plans will also require those who rent property through Airbnb to register on a new database that will make it easier for local councils to deal with complaints about problematic guests. Rishi Sunak has also proposed on-the-spot fines for littering and graffiti will more than triple to £500, and penalties for fly-tipping will more than double to £1,000.

Nutrient calculator for local planning authorities
The Welsh government will develop a nutrient calculator suitable for all local planning authorities; it aims to restart housing development in Special Areas of Conservation where rivers are “failing” to reach phosphate targets. The calculator is part of a wider action plan which will also establish Nutrient Management Boards. The role and function of the boards will be established by a review undertaken by charity Afonydd Cymru, due to be published this month. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Welsh government will also agree a service level agreement on the enforcement of the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations which aim to mitigate nutrient loading.

Business & Economy

UK to join Pacific trade bloc
The UK will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement follows two years of intense negotiations to join the 11-nation partnership. Ministers say the deal represents the real economic benefits of post-Brexit freedoms and would add £1.8 billion a year to the UK economy by the end of the decade. However, the UK already has trade agreements with the vast majority of its members, so reducing trade barriers with Malaysia is the main gain. The NFU has described the agreement ‘as a far more considered and balanced outcome’ compared to the deals struck with Australia and New Zealand. There are also hopes that the partnership will grow in coming years, with countries such as Costa Rica, Uruguay and Ecuador interested in joining. Potentially the US could join; this was once on the cards but stopped by President Trump. If this happened, Ministers suggest it would provide a backdoor to the US market without the UK needing to compromise on food standards.

Tourism is suffering from long Covid
UK visitor attractions are still suffering from the effects of the pandemic. The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions has reported a lack of international tourists, meaning visitor levels are still almost a quarter lower than before the pandemic. Indoor sites saw a 176% increase in the number of people visiting compared to the previous year. Big London attractions with no entry fee like the Natural History Museum, British Museum and Tate Modern saw their numbers recover by even more, around 200%. Even so, British attractions received around 37.8 million fewer visitors than in 2019. If you would like advice in relation to an existing or potential tourism, event or leisure enterprise please contact Simon Foster who leads our dedicated team.

Countryside Stewardship 2024 applications open
The latest application window for Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements is now open. The scheme has undergone some changes based on feedback:

• Removal of the limit on the value of capital items in the water or air quality, hedgerow and boundary, or natural flood management priorities

• A broadened offer that will now support natural flood management, create more areas of scrub, and reduce nitrogen inputs in groundwater

• An average increase of 10% for revenue payment rates and 48% for capital payment rates. 

The closing date for CS Mid-Tier applications is 18 August 2023. If you would like to discuss how the scheme could work on your farm please contact Georgina Sweeting.

Capital grant to reverse species decline
Natural England has unveiled a new capital grant scheme in an attempt to halt the decline of endangered species. The Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme will be open to partnerships, businesses, and organisations. While individuals cannot apply, they can work with a lead organisation. Grant requests can be anywhere between £50,000 and £500,000 for a range of specific activities such as equipment purchase, habitat enhancement and staff costs. Land under Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship agreements is eligible, so long as the grant and stewardship agreement are not delivering on the same outcome. The two-year grant scheme opened for applications on 3 April 2023 and will close after a period of six weeks. Further details are available here.

OTHER RURAL NEWS

Grey space to green space
Plans have been submitted to create a first-of-its-kind urban farm on top of a multi-storey car park in Birmingham. Proposals from Slow Food Birmingham, an organisation promoting local food production, include a farm, glasshouses, community gardens and an education hub on the site. The group said repurposing the top floors of the car park was the first step of its vision to “turn grey space to green productive space with the needs and wants of the local community at its heart”.

According to the Savills Allotment Survey, 50% of landowners who continue to offer allotments do so because they are aware of the community benefit that the sites provide. The results of the Survey, featured in the Spotlight on Controlled Environment Horticulture, also found that around 50% of landowners interacted with individual plot holders, while a little less than a third (29%) leased the site to an association that then managed the individual plots. Allotments are seen as a clear and obvious way for landowners to engage with their local community and build relationships. This spotlight also investigates how Brexit has affected trade in fresh food, key criteria for successfully investing in glasshouses and how vertical farms can survive the energy crisis.

And finally… The 3D culinary revolution
Additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, has achieved great leaps in our ability to produce new and exciting machines. From prosthetics to diamonds, to entire homes and everything inside, 3D printing is immensely adaptable. So, it was only a matter of time before it conquered the culinary world. Perhaps it is a bit premature to say conquered, however engineers at Columbia University have now at least managed to create something resembling a cheesecake. While early attempts collapsed into a gloopy heap, engineers have now managed to take little more than cartridges of food paste and powder and create an edible meal. While the cheesecake is the only vaguely enticing creation so far, the researchers say they can print chicken, beef, vegetables and cheese - anything that can be turned into a paste, liquid or powder.