The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has welcomed the Government's newly launched Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Future, describing it as an important step towards providing the long-term certainty needed to support investment, productivity and sustainability across the agricultural sector.
The roadmap sets out a 25-year vision for English farming, focusing on improving profitability, boosting productivity, strengthening resilience and supporting environmental sustainability. Alongside its long-term ambitions, the strategy also outlines a range of immediate measures aimed at helping farm businesses through investment incentives, innovation programmes and reforms to supply chains.
The announcement comes at a time when many farmers continue to face significant challenges, including rising costs, market uncertainty, labour shortages and the ongoing need to adapt to changing environmental and regulatory requirements.
Responding to the launch, AIC Chief Executive Robert Sheasby said the publication of a long-term strategy was an important development for both farmers and the wider food supply chain.
“We welcome the publication of a long-term roadmap for farming in England. Providing a clearer sense of direction beyond the next election is an important step in supporting confidence and investment across the whole agricultural and food chain sector.”
Robert Sheasby, Chief Executive, Agricultural Industries Confederation
Sheasby added that the roadmap's emphasis on productivity, profitability, resilience and sustainability closely aligns with the priorities of AIC members, who play a key role in supporting farmers through the provision of feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products and technical advice.
The Government's strategy also seeks to reduce barriers to trade and investment, encourage greater collaboration between farmers, improve supply chain performance and strengthen the role of the wider food sector in supporting economic growth.
AIC highlighted the importance of partnership working between government and industry if the roadmap is to achieve its objectives. The organisation pointed to the role of the Farming and Food Partnership Board, on which Sheasby serves, as a key forum for driving collaboration and supporting sector growth.
While welcoming the roadmap, the organisation stressed that the success of the strategy would ultimately depend on how it is implemented and whether sufficient clarity is provided to support long-term business planning and investment decisions.
The trade body also noted that many of the roadmap's themes mirror recommendations contained in its independently commissioned 2023 report, Powering Productivity for Sustainable UK Food Security, which called for greater investment in productivity, innovation and resilience throughout the agricultural supply chain.
The launch of the roadmap is likely to be welcomed across much of the farming sector, where there have been longstanding calls for greater policy certainty and a more strategic approach to food production, environmental stewardship and rural economic development.
The Agricultural Industries Confederation represents more than 230 businesses across the UK's agricultural supply chain, with member companies collectively accounting for around £17.8 billion in turnover at farmgate level. Its members supply farmers and growers with essential products and services that underpin food production across the country.
The Government is expected to provide further detail on the implementation of the Farming Roadmap 2050 in the coming months.
