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The UK's exit from the EU also means a departure from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The new Agriculture Bill is the biggest reform of British agriculture and farming since 1945, and provides a range of powers to implement new approaches to farm payments and land management.
In England, farmers will be paid to produce ‘public goods’ such as environmental or animal welfare improvements. This will contribute to the government’s commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, while at the same time, helping to boost farmers’ productivity. The Bill also includes wider measures, including on improving fairness in the agricultural supply chain and on the operation of agricultural markets.
New additions to this Bill include a requirement for Ministers to encourage producing food in an environmentally sustainable way; multi-annual plans about how they will use their financial assistance powers; a requirement to report on food security at least once every five years; and measures relating to fertiliser regulation and identification and traceability of animals.
The first reading of the Bill took place on May 18. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords. The second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is scheduled for June 10.
Read the full briefing paper from the House of Commons here: The Agriculture Bill 2019-21
June 1, 2020/ 333 Staff with information from House of Commons Library, UK Government, and UK Parliament.
