Farmers invited to take part in pilot for Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme

Article summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has unveiled its plans for piloting the future Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, which forms part of the government’s plans for rewarding future sustainable farming practices now that the UK has left the EU Common Agricultural Policy. The Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme will support approaches to farming that deliver for the environment, such as actions to improve soil health, hedgerows and integrated pest management and it is hoped that it will help farmers, foresters and other land managers play ‘a crucial role in the national effort to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions’. Defra is encouraging farmers to take part in the pilot of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme and has confirmed that the window for expressions of interest will open from 15 March 2021.