1. Defra unveiled its upgraded ELMs offer
Steve Barclay revealed Defra's greatly anticipated expansion of the SFI offer, which includes 50 new actions, a streamlined application process and increased payment rates.
Speaking at the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference, Mr Barclay reiterated the government鈥檚 support for British farmers and outlined the updated offer for 2024 which has been designed using farmers鈥� feedback.
To keep up to date with all things SFI, visit our SFI essential information page.
2. OFC24 supply chain report says risk vs reward ratio is 鈥榦ut of kilter鈥�
The report 鈥�听听鈥� states that years of 鈥榩ermacrisis鈥� fuelled by Brexit, the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic and soaring inflation rates have left farming鈥檚 confidence and bank balances at an all-time, unsustainable low.
Key findings included:
- The risk versus reward imbalance is forcing farmers out of production; retailers need to share the risk.
- Retailer practices need to change 鈥� long term trade agreements, inexperienced buyers and burdensome audits are damaging suppliers鈥� profit and partnerships.
- Farmers鈥� accounting and negotiating skills need improvement.
3. Government to consult on food labelling measures
In his political address, Steve Barclay also announced measures to improve transparency in food labelling which will 鈥榤ake sure high-quality British food stands out from the crowd鈥�.
Mr Barclay said that clear food labelling would help to 鈥渢ackle the unfairness created by misleading labelling鈥�, while also backing domestic food production.
4. Panellists debate diversified leadership in agriculture听
Speaking as part of the Oxford Farming Conference鈥檚 panel, 鈥楧iversified leadership 鈥� could farming do better?鈥� NFU President Minette Batters Minette shared her experiences of leadership in the agricultural sector, alongside Group Finance Director at Frontier Agriculture Ltd Diana Overton, and Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London David Hughes.
Minette recalled receiving a text on the day she was elected: 鈥淚t said 鈥榡ust remember, being a woman you鈥檒l have to work twice as hard and you鈥檒l be judged twice as hard鈥�. That message has stayed with me throughout these past ten years.鈥�
Diana Overton said that 鈥渢he leadership of our industry today is not representative of the diversity of its members鈥� despite the fact that agriculture as an industry is already gender diverse.听
She said 鈥渇arm businesses are often dependant on women who will typically be juggling multiple back office roles...all crucial to the success of a modern farming business鈥�.
Professor Hughes presented his research on farmers leading on issues relating to food production and climate change.
He said he found it to be 鈥渏ust common sense鈥� for the farm sector to 鈥渓ead on issues relating to the environmental impact of food production, albeit in collaboration with the other key sectors鈥�.
5. Work continues to encourage shoppers to 鈥榖uy British鈥櫶�
Following the decision by Morrisons to add a 鈥榖uy British鈥� tab to its website, Mr Barclay shared plans on how Defra will work with major online retailers to make the origin of their food products clearer, including further roll out of 鈥楤uy British鈥� sections on supermarket websites.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently commented in Parliament that his government will 鈥渃ontinue to encourage鈥� British supermarkets to do all they can to showcase British produce.