In Landscope this week we provide an update and explore what this means for landowners who are developing mitigation projects.

In its first year just under 11,000 boilers were replaced through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme - the target is 90,000 over three years so the pace needs to pick up. The government is consulting on changes which could make it easier to access and potentially offer more support to typical rural properties.

FOOD & FARMING

Processed food threatens ill-health tidal wave
A tidal wave of heart disease could strike Britain due to its dependence on ultra-processed food (UPF). Two studies have revealed that ultra-processed food significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Even options that may be perceived as healthy, such as protein bars, low-fat yoghurts and cereal, were linked to poorer health. More than half of the typical British daily diet is made up of UPF, which is a larger proportion than in any other country in Europe.

One study from the University of Sydney analysed the impact of the increased consumption of UPF on more than 10,000 middle-aged women from Australia over the last 15 years. It found that 39% of women were more likely to develop high blood pressure when compared with those with the lowest intake of UPF. The second study from China’s Fourth Military Medical University pooled data from 325,000 people, who were divided into four groups depending on how much of their daily food intake was ultra-processed. Those with the highest consumption were 24% more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke or heart attack. Every 10% increase in the proportion of UPF was linked to a 6% increase in heart disease risk. This was the case even after scientists adjusted for the impact of salt, sugar, fat and other nutrients, suggesting the physical act of processing the food is harmful.

Sustainable Farming Incentive pre-registration opens
Farmers in England can now register their interest in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). The pre-registration process asks them which categories of SFI actions they are likely to apply for e.g., soils, moorland or integrated pest management. Defra will invite these farmers to apply for the scheme in a controlled way starting on 18 September. It expects that most will be invited to apply within four weeks of registering their interest. For further information about the SFI, our updated briefing note summarises the key information that you need to know.

Intensive poultry is driving bird flu
It will not be possible to end the spread of bird flu without major reforms to industrial farming says a new report from Compassion in World Farming. The report, titled “Bird flu: Only major farm reforms can end it”, sets out a three-point action plan to tackle the disease:

1. Mass vaccination of flocks to slow the spread of the disease.

2. Radical restructuring of the poultry industry to avoid poultry farm clusters and create smaller flocks.

3. Changing the way pigs are farmed to avoid the creation of new zoonotic diseases.

The report has received some criticism. The RSPCA agreed that industrial poultry farming must be reformed but noted the use of vaccines was currently experimental. Instead, the RSPCA advocated for better animal welfare to promote improved immune systems in birds. The British Poultry Council was more explicit in its criticism, suggesting the report misunderstands the disease mechanism and conflates disease control with opinion.

Scotland: funding for animal welfare
Support has been launched to help farmers and crofters in Scotland identify health and welfare interventions that could improve performance. Up to £1,250 is available over two years per flock or herd - this supports up to two interventions a year at £250 each, plus an additional £250 for personal development.

Scotland: guidance on the impact of beavers
New resources have been published by the Farm Advisory Service to help farmers in Scotland manage beavers occupying their land and waterways. Beavers have been reintroduced to Scotland over the last two decades, with the Scottish government announcing in 2021 that it would increase the translocation of them across Scotland. The reintroduction has caused tension within Scottish agriculture due to the disruption they can cause; in response, the new resources include advice on mitigation and living alongside beavers.

POLICY

Mini cabinet reshuffle
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has undertaken a very slight cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. Grant Shapps has taken Mr Wallace’s place while Claire Coutinho, Mr Sunak’s former special advisor, has been promoted to Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Mr Shapps’ former post.

Ms Coutinho is described as a rising star of the Conservative party, being the first of the Conservatives' 2019 election intake to join the Cabinet. She is also believed to have “distinct shades of green” because she used her maiden speech in parliament in January 2020 to discuss green policy and is an active member of the Conservative Environment Network.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL CAPITAL

Plans to boost heat pump rollout
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offered in England and Wales could be amended to make it easier to access and potentially offer more support to typical rural properties. A consultation on revising the scheme is running until 12 October. Currently, property owners can receive £5,000 towards the cost of an air source heat pump or biomass boiler and £6,000 towards the cost of a ground or water source heat pump. The government wants to know if it should be possible to vary the size of the grant according to the type of property, existing fuel source and type of property owner. One example given states it is possible heat pump costs will fall faster for properties with gas heating rather than those with oil heating and so it may be appropriate for oil-fuelled properties to receive larger grants.

To ensure that properties are made as efficient as possible before installing an appropriately sized heat pump, a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation is currently required. The government also questions whether this requirement is too onerous and should be scrapped. Biomass boilers with cooking functions are also currently excluded from assistance to promote whole-house systems. The consultation asks if this form of boiler should be added to Ofgem’s list of eligible products.

Peatland projects receive funding
Twelve projects will receive a share of £16 million to restore more than 6,000 hectares of peatlands across England. Successful projects include the Buttle Marshes Restoration project in Norfolk, The Dorset Peat Partnership and the ‘Moor to Restore’ project in the North York Moors National Park. A further £2 million in funding was recently announced to back a ‘Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery’ pilot. In total, £50 million has been promised by the government to be invested in peat restoration. If you would like to discuss peatland restoration in England please contact Hannah Turner.

PROPERTY & DEVELOPMENT

Nutrient neutrality to be reformed
Following months of legal challenges and political pressure, the government announced, on 29 August 2023, its intention to prevent nutrient neutrality (NN) rules from having a direct impact on planning consents in England and as a result, unlock development in 62 local authority areas where delivery of 100,000 houses is estimated to be impacted. Ministers had signalled widely that a relaxation of the NN rules was imminent, so the announcement was not a surprise. However, it has been a disappointment for environmental campaigners pressuring the government on its poor record on water quality, and it will be disappointing for landowners eyeing emerging offsetting markets.

Instead, the NN issue will be addressed by doubling investment in Natural England’s existing Nutrient Mitigation Scheme to £280 million and securing appropriate and fair contributions to this scheme from larger developers over the coming years. This suggests an ongoing role for landowners in providing nutrient-offsetting services but with a different customer. For the revised arrangements to come into effect the amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill must achieve Royal Assent and be implemented by secondary legislation. An amendment to undo the government reform has already been tabled in the House of Lords where the government does not hold a majority. In the meantime, developers will need to secure nutrient offset credits directly to progress their development projects. For a full summary and analysis of the new proposals please see our briefing note.

Scotland: short-term let deadline
The Scottish Government has reminded short-term let operators to apply for a licence before the 1 October deadline. Licensing has been introduced to ensure short-term lets in Scotland are safe and meet consistent quality standards, including having gas safety certificates and suitable electrical equipment. Official statistics so far show that no applications have been rejected. Short-term let licences last for three years and their cost varies depending on the type of application (home sharing, secondary let etc.).

BUSINESS & economy

Satellites to provide climate services
Investment continues to help develop Earth observation tools to assist with environmental monitoring and climate change forecasting. Some of the ten new projects that the UK Space Agency has just funded have direct relevance to agriculture including:

• EOLAS Insight Ltd to develop a mapping and reporting service focused on watercourse resilience

• Agreed Earth Ltd to develop remote monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural land

• Sparkgeo UK to develop an automated methane monitoring service to monitor emissions of methane

• GeoSmart Information Ltd to develop a groundwater-level forecasting system.

OTHER RURAL NEWS

And finally…
Record-breaking year for UK watermelons
A Cambridgeshire farm has claimed a UK record after growing 11,000 watermelons this year. Oakley Farms, in Wisbech, is the UK’s largest producer of watermelons, having doubled its production since 2020. The farm also grows pumpkins and courgettes but says growing watermelons fits perfectly in between the two other crops. Achieving the record has not been easy though. The British climate was described as “challenging” by the grower who tested different methods to produce more fruit per plant.