Farming With Nature: What the New Environment Improvement Plan Means for Food Production - And Why Low Carbon Agriculture Is More Important Than Ever
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Farming With Nature: What the New Environment Improvement Plan Means for Food Production - And Why Low Carbon Agriculture Is More Important Than Ever
At Low Carbon Agriculture, our mission is simple: to help farmers farm alongside nature, reduce their carbon footprint, and remain profitable food producers feeding the nation.
But as new government plans and environmental targets emerge, farmers are being asked to deliver more for nature than ever before, often without the same level of clarity on how food production fits into the long-term vision.
The Government’s new Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), published on 1 December, sets out ambitious goals to restore habitats, improve biodiversity, and accelerate environmental progress across England. Alongside the plan comes a £500 million boost to the Landscape Recovery scheme, aiming to support large-scale nature restoration projects by combining public funding with private investment.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds outlined the Government’s ambition:
“Britain's rolling hills and stunning coastline are treasures we must protect for generations to come… Our new plan delivers the bold action needed to create nature-rich habitats, clean up our air and waterways, and restore the natural world we all enjoy.”
These goals resonate strongly with farmers who care deeply about the land, the environment, and long-term land stewardship. But as the NFU highlights, big questions remain about how environmental ambitions align with food production.
Food Security cannot be an afterthought
NFU President Tom Bradshaw welcomed the direction of travel but warned that the plan does not yet offer the clarity farmers need:
“Farmers stand ready to deliver for the environment. What farmers need from Defra in return is clarity on the importance of domestic food production and a policy framework that supports that.”
This tension is growing across the sector. Farmers are being encouraged, rightly, to improve soils, restore habitats, reduce emissions, and contribute to national net zero goals. Yet they must also remain productive, efficient, and financially viable.
Environmental delivery and food production are not mutually exclusive. But policy needs to support their balance, not create uncertainty about the future of UK farming.
Landscape Recovery: opportunity or risk?
The Government’s £500 million funding boost for Landscape Recovery is designed to encourage ambitious, large-scale environmental projects. These projects can bring:
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Nature restoration
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Biodiversity uplift
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New income streams for landowners
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Collaborative landscape-level benefits
But as the NFU notes, private investment, an essential part of the model, has been difficult to secure in practice. Without confidence in long-term funding, many farmers may hesitate to engage their businesses in large, multi-decade commitments.
For that reason, the NFU continues to call for:
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Certainty in the Sustainable Farming Incentive
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Delivery of the EIP that works for real businesses
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A Land Use Framework that gives food production equal priority
At Low Carbon Agriculture, we hear these messages loud and clear, and our 2026 show will focus heavily on the solutions, financial models, and technologies that allow farmers to deliver both.
Access to nature, rural health & the need for better monitoring
The countryside charity CPRE has welcomed key elements of the EIP, especially the ambitious targets for hedgerow restoration, one of its long-running campaign wins.
However, CPRE CEO Roger Mortlock warns that there are still critical gaps:
“Everyone should enjoy equal access to our beautiful countryside… The government's commitments are encouraging, but we now need a clear timeline so tangible progress can be made.”
Mortlock also highlights major omissions, such as the lack of clear regulation around light pollution, which increasing evidence shows can harm both wildlife and human health.
These gaps matter. Farmers are willing partners in environmental improvement, but successful policy must be complete, coherent and workable on the ground.
Join us at Low Carbon Agriculture 2026 - Where food production and nature go hand in hand
At a time when Government policy is still taking shape, Low Carbon Agriculture offers farmers the chance to gain clarity, practical guidance, and real-world solutions. Join thousands of forward-thinking farmers, landowners and land managers, across two full days of expert panels, technical sessions and innovation showcases, you’ll gain:
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Practical regenerative farming strategies
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Guidance on renewable energy, grid access, solar, hydrogen & AD
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Insight into nature-based carbon removal
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The latest in clean tech and low-emission machinery
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Solutions to balance environmental delivery with profitable food production
Whether you're working towards net zero, adapting to evolving land use policy, or simply looking to improve efficiency on-farm, Low Carbon Agriculture is here to help you farm with nature, not against it.