Soil Association response
Rapid SFI closure “shambolic and disheartening”
For immediate release
Wednesday 23 September
The Soil Association has joined others across the farming sector in expressing disappointment that the long-awaited Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) closed after being open less than a day. All funding has been allocated, despite the scheme only opening yesterday (Tuesday 22 September). Soil Association Policy Director Brendan Costelloe said: “For farmers to have such a tiny window to apply to the Sustainable Farming Incentive is shambolic. When we’re facing a nature and climate crisis, it really is disheartening that so many farmers who wanted support to do something about it have been locked out, and this has implications for food security and the environment. “The message for government is loud and clear – farmers want to farm more sustainably and protect nature, but there is not a big enough budget available. There should not be this level of panic for farmers to get help to do the right thing. “We are concerned about the implications for the whole farming sector and disappointed that this could prevent farmers from converting to organic. Defra has recognised that organic has proven benefits for protecting soils and nature, but it is a long-term commitment and government needs to dedicate funding for conversion so farmers can make the shift. “And the government needs to increase the size of the budget overall to reflect the scale both the nature and climate crisis and the scale of demand from farmers who want and need to address the problems.”
Further information:
The Soil Association calls for government to give clarity asap on scheme availability and funding in 2027, and to find short term fixes as needed, and for the treasury to recognise the need for funding for food and farming and delivery of environmental commitments in the forthcoming budget. We also call for some funding to be ringfenced for higher tiers and options that deliver the most, including organic, so that the SFI delivers highest impact. Government should also speed up the process of moving certain practices into the regulatory baseline. The UK saw a rise in conversion to organic this year but this was led by Scotland, where there is a funded Organic Action Plan and a separate fund for organic conversion and no land cap for funding.
Source: press release issued by Soilassociation.