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Over 10,000 farmers from across England have submitted their applications for the enhanced Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) program since its launch in September, according to an announcement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) today (Wednesday, 14 February).

Four months after reopening applications, the SFI scheme, designed by incorporating farmers’ feedback, has gained significant traction, with about one in eight eligible farmers now taking part. This comes in addition to the existing 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements already active.

The SFI incentivizes farmers to engage in practices that bolster food production, enhance farm productivity, and promote resilience while also protecting and improving the environment. Enthusiastic participation has been noted from farmers of all types and sizes across the nation.

Farmers involved in the scheme have taken proactive steps to yield meaningful environmental improvements while still focusing on food production. Currently, 174,000 hectares of arable land are being managed without the use of insecticides, while 71,000 hectares of low-input grassland initiatives aim to improve sustainability. Additionally, almost 15,000 km of hedgerows are actively managed under this initiative.

This announcement coincides with Defra revealing the recipients of the ‘On Farm Environmental Resilience’ competition. A total of £12.2 million in funding has been awarded to various projects aimed at addressing long-term challenges faced by plants, crops, and livestock.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer commented:

The Sustainable Farming Incentive caters to all farm business types, so it’s encouraging to see how well the scheme is being embraced by farmers throughout England.

I urge those who haven’t yet applied to consider how the scheme could benefit their operations and join the many farmers who are already reaping the rewards.

Paul Caldwell, Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency, added:

We’ve made significant efforts to simplify the application process, and the feedback we’ve received from most farmers indicates they find it manageable.

All necessary information for applications has been made available, and I encourage farmers to act now and participate.

Based on farmers’ insights, the SFI has been enhanced and streamlined, offering a clearer application process and greater flexibility for farmers to select actions that best suit their needs. Importantly, farmers can participate in both SFI and Countryside Stewardship simultaneously, provided the selected actions are compatible.

This announcement follows the government’s statement at the Oxford Farming Conference regarding the largest upgrade of UK farming schemes since exiting the EU.

This includes the introduction of around 50 new actions eligible for payment across all farming types, a general increase of 10% in payment rates for SFI and Countryside Stewardship agreements, as well as a consolidated application process for both schemes.

Farmers are encouraged to apply for an SFI agreement now and select from 23 available actions rather than waiting until the summer when the program will expand further. This early application ensures access to immediate funding and allows for annual addition of actions to their agreements or the potential for multiple agreements for additional measures.

Farmers considering applying for the SFI will find various resources available, including:

  • Webinars tailored for specific sectors in February and March to gather feedback and provide insights into the SFI.
  • Defra and RPA representatives will be present at agricultural shows across England, providing information to interested farmers.
  • Six regional events scheduled in the Southwest, West Midlands, and Northeast to promote awareness of farming schemes, especially among livestock and mixed farming sectors.
  • Co-hosted webinars with trusted partners, including Catchment Sensitive Farming advisors, FAS, Barclays Bank, and Waitrose.
  • Defra participation at the NFU conference.
  • Continuous engagement with top stakeholders through forums and discussions.

Farmers can learn about upcoming webinars and regional Defra events by visiting the Farming blog. They can also access complimentary business advice through the Farming Resilience Fund or contact the RPA helpline at 03000 200 301.

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Farming Innovation Programme: On-Farm Environmental Resilience Competition

A total of 24 innovative projects, focusing on cutting-edge technology to ensure the sustainability of British farms, will share over £12.2 million in funding. This initiative aims to enhance productivity, food security, and sustainable farming techniques.

The successful projects in the ‘On-Farm Environmental Resilience’ competition address various long-term challenges for plants, crops, and farmed animals, including combating potato blight, improving the welfare of farmed chickens, developing climate-resistant hop varieties, and maximizing grape production in British vineyards.

This funding is part of Defra’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), administered by Innovate UK, which has so far committed more than £140 million to support over 170 projects nationwide.

Among the recipients is a project set to enhance food security by boosting the yields of fruits and vegetables grown in greenhouses by 20%. Utilizing groundbreaking sunlight-altering materials, the project aims to design a new greenhouse that modifies light ratios for plants, significantly reducing the reliance on LED lighting and decreasing energy consumption.

Another initiative is developing an intelligent indoor lighting system that responds to chicken behavior to improve their welfare, minimize disease spread, and enhance productivity. A separate project is collaborating with top UK vineyard Rathfinny Wine Estates to optimize the production of high-quality sustainable British wine via precision agriculture techniques that monitor soil and water conditions accurately for better crop management.

Lambda Agri has received over £400,000 from the scheme to advance its innovative greenhouse technology. CEO Niall Haughian remarked:

We are thrilled to receive this funding, enabling us to conduct large-scale independent trials. Our collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and Brett Martin focuses on enhancing polycarbonate sidings to provide additional red light, proven to boost crop yields.

This partnership design will allow us to offer enhanced sidings to growers next year, contributing to the success of British greenhouse producers and increasing the nation’s food independence.

Klara Hajdu from Wye Hops Limited, awarded over £475,000 to create environmentally suited hop varieties, expressed:

We are excited to secure Farming Innovation Programme funding to develop new climate-resilient hop varieties that will benefit the UK hop and brewing industries.

Dr. Stella Peace, Executive Director at Innovate UK for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain, stated:

Funding throughout the innovation spectrum is crucial for enhancing productivity, securing food supplies, and nurturing sustainable agriculture. It reflects our dedication to establishing a resilient and visionary agricultural sector.

The FIP has supported 20 competitions since its inception in October 2021, fostering innovative methods for farms to enhance sustainability and productivity. This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s commitment made at the Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street last May to ensure that at least 60% of the food consumed in the UK is produced domestically.

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