The government has made clear its ambitions to promote a new, more resilient growth model, with Rachel Reeves outlining a “securonomics” strategy. In a speech last year, she defined the agenda as promoting investment-led growth, rebuilt domestic supply chains, forging long-term industrial policy across a range of sectors, and fostering a more active partnership between the state and the private sector.
So far, much of the noise around securonomics has focused on its implications for the industries most commonly associated with the green transition: energy, green tech, renewable infrastructure. But an often overlooked – and yet essential – component is agriculture and farming. UK farmers and agricultural producers are essential for providing high-quality, fresh food for the British public,as well as acting as custodians of the countryside and the front line in nature conservation and restoration.
In a volatile environment, it’s never been more important to secure an agricultural sector fit for the future – one that is resilient, green, and sustainable, as well as being a driver of green growth. But ensuring a sustainable agriculture sector has been made even harder in recent years. Geopolitical events, including the pandemic, and a rise in input costs have taken their toll. Inconsistent policy and vision for the industry has made investment in innovation challenging, while adverse weather is having a major impact on yields and production.
Tesco’s Greenprint for UK Farming report, launched in January and developed with Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming found that 67 per cent of farmers are seeing the impacts of climate change affect their business directly, but 76 per cent haven’t been able to implement the sustainability measures they would like to. As custodians of their land, farmers clearly recognise the importance of becoming more sustainable and mitigating the effects of climate change, but many are facing challenges to stay both profitable and sustainable amid economic pressures and policy uncertainty.
The report, based on a survey of more than 250 farmers and conducted at agricultural shows across the country, as well as in-depth roundtable discussions with 50 farmers across arable, livestock and fresh produce supply chains, explored many barriers faced by farmers in improving the sustainability of their farms. It found a lack of clarity and consistency over farming policy and funding, is acting as a key barrier to innovation and to introducing improved sustainability practices on many farms.
“The government must set a long-term vision for UK agriculture and give farmers clarity on the role they can play in the UK’s wider transition to net zero. Likewise, the food industry can support farmers to invest in new tools and technology at scale, to bring down farm emissions and improve yields. If we get it right, the farming sector will be a powerful driver of green growth in our economy,” comments Ashwin Prasad, Chief Commercial Officer at Tesco.
Policy stability and predictability are key. That’s something that the government has emphasised for other areas of the economy represented in the industrial strategy green paper, but the equivalent is still lacking for agriculture. After a period of public policy flux, the uncertainties of Brexit and changes of government, there’s now an opportunity for a more consistent, predictable environment for the sector to thrive.
But this will involve the government setting a long-term food security strategy to help inform government decision-making and industry investment in the transition to net zero, as has been done in many other countries. The National Farmers’ Union backing a comprehensive land-use framework that allows farmers to strike the balance between food security, profitability and the green transition. Tesco is doing the same, as well as clarity on sustainability requirements and standards, through
clear best-practice models, frameworks and certifications.
As the UK’s largest customer of British agriculture, Tesco has experience of supporting its farmers to improve best practice. The retailer’s Sustainable Lamb Group, established in 2014, is made up of over 100 UK farmers who are paid a bonus above the factory price for delivering against key environmental and welfare metrics. The Sustainable Lamb Group farms, as well as 100 Sustainable Beef Group farms, also provide clear primary data on supply base emissions, allowing for the development of reduction pathways.
Clive Phillips, a family farmer based in Aberdeenshire and a member of the Tesco Sustainable Lamb Group has seen the benefits of this approach. “As a committee member on the Tesco Sustainable Lamb Group, my role involves working alongside other farmers to share knowledge, adopt best practices, and help shape initiatives that align with both environmental goals and the economic realities of lamb farming,” he says.
“The group has achieved significant progress so far. It’s provided a platform for greater transparency and collaboration, offering insights into Tesco’s sustainability requirements and helping farmers adapt to them. Initiatives such as benchmarking performance, reducing emissions, and enhancing animal welfare have been at the forefront. Additionally, the group has worked to secure fairer pricing models and contracts, which provide stability and support for long-term investments in sustainable practices.”
It’s time to scale these kinds of strategies, to build a sustainable, resilient agricultural sector. Securonomics can’t just be limited to the energy or green manufacturing industries. It needs to be applied and developed holistically.
Farmers are ready to meet the challenge. But it’s only through consistency, clear strategy and investment that we can create a secure, domestic food system that’s sustainable in every sense of the word.
A Greenprint for UK Farming: Working in partnership with UK farmers to deliver a more sustainable food system: Tescoplc.com/Greenprint-Report