Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 July 2026.

Seven areas of England now officially in drought after record low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures.

Half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency.   

A large swathe of central, eastern, and southern England is now experiencing a flash drought – which develops very quickly brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.    

Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use.   

The seven areas in drought are:   

• East Anglia,   
• Hertfordshire and the whole of London,   
• Thames Valley,   
• Hampshire & the Isle of Wight.
• Devon & Cornwall,   
• The West Midlands   
• Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire)

The Environment Agency has again stepped up its operational response, including enhanced monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwaters.    

Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said: 

The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.    

A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.

We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture. 

Representatives from the National Drought Group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, Canal & River Trust, anglers and conservation experts – held a dedicated drought briefing yesterday (Tuesday 28th July) with Water Minister, Emma Hardy.   

They reviewed impacts, preparedness, and drought response actions across England, with water companies being told to prioritise fixing leaks.     

There is also additional engagement with key groups, such as farmers and water companies, and cross-government work to secure supplies into the autumn.    

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: 

Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.    

We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.     

We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.

The current drought now means there have been three droughts in the past five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026.     

There has been a dramatic shift in our weather this year – from a very wet winter to an exceptionally hot and dry summer.  

The winter rainfall helped replenish reservoirs and groundwater, helping us through a dry spring without any major impacts.    

However, the summer has continued to be exceptionally hot and dry. July has seen just 7% of expected rainfall, falling to 1% across southern England – and there is no substantial rain on the way.    

Combined with three heatwaves, including 12 consecutive days of temperatures above 30C, our water storage has begun to deplete. The higher temperatures also mean water is evaporating from soils and vegetation, making wildfires more likely.    

A fourth heatwave is under way, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber alerts for the East Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East.  

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Will Lang, said:

The warm and exceptionally dry conditions experienced across much of England over recent months are continuing to have a significant impact. Many areas have received very little or no rainfall throughout July, extending a period of below-average rainfall that has persisted across parts of the country since spring.       

While there are indications of occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations, there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.       

The Met Office continues to work closely with the Environment Agency and partners across the water sector, providing expert meteorological information and forecasts to support drought monitoring, planning and response activities.   

Alongside seven areas in drought, these areas are now in prolonged dry weather:    

• Kent & East Sussex,    
• Cumbria & Lancashire,    
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire,    
• East Midlands,  
• Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire,    
• The rest of Solent & the South Downs. 

Just Yorkshire and the North East remain in normal status, with the situation under close review.   

The current water situation is:   

• July has so-far seen 7% of its long-term average rainfall. Some parts of Devon have not experienced a rain day for 50 days and parts of Hampshire have been without for 49 days.   
• Some 78% of England’s rivers are now classified as below normal or lower. A sixth of rivers are now classed as exceptionally low for the time of year.    
• Some rivers are tracking their lowest river flows on record for this time of year, including River Thames at Reading and the River Cam at Dernford, Cambridgeshire.   
• Reservoir storage has fallen further to 75.3% for England, around 7.4% below the long-term average for the time of year.
• Almost half are classed as below normal levels. Wimbleball (South West Water) and Blagdon (Bristol Water) reservoirs are exceptionally low.    
• Soil moisture deficits last week were at record levels across the north-east, central, south-east and south-west England for this time in July.    
• Seven water companies have introduced Temporary Use Bans (TUBs), for 23 million customers – around 40% of England’s population. They are: Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water and South West Water.   
• Prolonged dry weather is creating significant challenges for agriculture, with early cereal harvesting, reduced yields for some crops and increased field fires,    
• Low river flows have led to 1,506 abstraction licence restrictions, while irrigation demand remains high. There has been a rapid decline in farm storage reservoirs with concerns for availability for the rest of the year.   
• There have been 110 wildfires on Sites of Special Scientific Interest so far this year, including Dovestone and Tintwistle in the Peak District.       
• Waters surrounding the UK have also been experiencing marine heatwave conditions, with sea surface temperatures remaining well above average across many coastal areas.   
• Lower water levels, and a lack of rainfall to top up spawning pools, significantly impact the breeding success of species such as natterjack toads.    
• Migratory fish, such as Atlantic salmon, are unable to move upstream because of reduced riverflows.    

With everyone’s help in using a little less water and following restrictions, our current reserves should be enough for the coming months until the next period of sustained rainfall.  

Small steps, such as turning off the taps when brushing teeth or shaving, taking a shorter shower or fixing a leaking toilet can really add up.    

Work by the Environment Agency this year to support our water resources includes:    

• Water is currently being released from strategic reservoirs at the top of the River Severn and from groundwaters in Shropshire to maintain flows for navigation, support the environment, and aid abstractors.    
• Working with angling groups and fisheries, including funding schemes to buy aeration and monitoring equipment.
• There have been 38 fish rescues, including on the River Teme, River Onny, and River Redlake, with hundreds of brown trout, juvenile salmon, bullhead, grayling, and lamprey being moved. Members of the public can report fish in distress to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.     
• More compliance checks are being carried out on abstractors to ensure everyone is using water fairly.    
• In the Thames area, the EA has just completed staunching Old Windsor weir to reduce leakages and support Thames Water’s abstraction downstream for London drinking water.   
• Along the Thames, from St Jonn’s Lock to Osney Lock, we are limiting lock usage during the day and are closing them between 6:00pm – 9:30am, to preserve water.   
• At Tuckers Pond in Faringdon, we used chemical aeration to save fish from dying as algae that had flourished in the hot and dry weather caused a crash in oxygen levels 
• Working closely with the National Farmers Union, particularly in East Anglia – the country’s breadbasket, making sure all abstractors understand the latest water resources position.    
• The Environment Agency continues to work with Government, including Defra and the Cabinet Office, on current and future drought response.     
• The Environment Agency is a proud supporter of the Water Efficiency Campaign which launched this month: (https://letssavewater.com)

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 July 2026.

Half a million-pound financial penalties introduced in latest crackdown on polluting water companies.

Water companies that flout environmental rules now face faster penalties of up to £500,000 in the latest set of reforms to improve our waterways.  

As part of the government’s once-in-a-generation overhaul of the water system, the Environment Agency will see their powers strengthened and expanded.  

Previously, the regulator was limited in its ability to impose financial penalties for frequent, minor and moderate offending – such as breaches of a licence or permit.  

This was because it needed to prove an offence to the same high legal standard used in criminal courts, often making penalties too expensive and time-consuming to pursue.  

In future, the regulator will be able to use the lower civil standard of proof – meaning more financial penalties, delivered quicker in a move that ensures those who violate the rules have nowhere to hide.  

These changes follow a host of improvements over the last two years to tackle pollution, streamline regulation, protect customers, and secure long-term investment in the sector.  

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This government has been clear that polluting water companies and bosses will face the consequences of their actions. The introduction of automatic penalties will give the Environment Agency the teeth it needs to deliver cleaner rivers, lakes and seas.

This is just one of the actions we’re taking to clamp down on water companies including the introduction of a more powerful water regulator, no-notice inspections, MOT-style checks of water company assets and banning bonuses for polluting bosses.

The changes to the civil penalties framework were enabled in the Water (Special Measures) Act but had to be put out to consultation before going for Parliamentary approval.  

A £500,000 cap will be introduced to variable monetary penalties that are proved to the civil standard of proof. There will also be the introduction of new automatic penalties – like a speeding ticket – for clearly defined breaches. This would involve a £10,000 payment, which would double if the company failed to pay within 28 days. 

The changes are in addition to other enforcement tools, including unlimited financial penalties – known as Variable Monetary Penalties – where offending is proved to a criminal standard.

The Environment Agency will continue to pursue criminal prosecution for the most serious offences.  

The size of the penalty will be dependent upon the size of the water company, meaning penalties cannot simply be factored into the cost of doing business.

Environment Agency Chair, Alan Lovell, said:  

We care deeply about protecting our waterways and welcome measures that will deter pollution incidents and other harmful permit breaches.   

These changes complement our current enforcement powers, including criminal prosecution, and will further our aim of delivering quick and proportionate punishment where failures happen.   

We now have more people, better data and increased powers to drive better company performance and achieve a cleaner water environment for us all.

Modelling, based on water company performance in previous years, suggests the changes could cost the water sector between £50million and £67million annually.

The expectation is this will drive improved performance by water companies and see improvements in asset management and data collection – therefore the cost will reduce over time.   

Water companies cannot pass the financial penalties onto customer bills.

These changes are the latest in two years of progress delivering on the government’s priority of improving the water system.

• The landmark Water (Special Measures) Act, introducing the toughest enforcement powers in a decade, including criminal liability for water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills and the power to ban unfair bonuses, which in 2025 blocked £4 million in bonuses across six water companies.  
• Ringfenced water company investment, ensuring customers’ money is spent on fixing pipes, reducing sewage spills and improving water quality, not dividends or bonuses.  
• Improved transparency, introducing real-time monitoring at every emergency overflow so the public can see what is happening in their local waters.  
• Boosted protections for customers, doubling compensation when basic water services fail and making it easier for vulnerable households to access bill support.  
• Signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollution which devastates our waterways.  
• Set out once-in-a-generation reforms in the White Paper, including plans for:
  • a new single water regulator, delivering tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies.  
  • a new Chief Engineer role which will bring back the hands-on checks of water infrastructure.  
  • long-term, systematic reforms where assets are properly maintained, and problems can be spotted before they lead to water shortages.  
  • a roll-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels to help households monitor their water use.  
  • Stronger inspection powers, including the new regulator able to conduct ‘no notice’ inspections.  
  • These measures are underpinned by over £104 billion in private investment, to upgrade water infrastructure over the next five years – the largest programme since privatisation – creating jobs, supporting new homes, and cutting pollution.  

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 July 2026.

18,771 new homes in East Anglia, Lincolnshire and the Home Counties closer to being built.

Families will benefit from more than 18,000 new homes following a landmark breakthrough between the government and Anglian Water – the latest victory in the government’s drive to tear down the blockers and get Britain building. 

The government’s Water Delivery Taskforce stepped in as Anglian Water previously objected to several large-scale developments due to concerns over wastewater treatment capacity. The Taskforce brought together local planning authorities, regulators and Anglian Water to agree a path forward. 

Through the new approach, Anglian Water is working with developers and planning authorities at an earlier stage in the process to enable large scale developments of over 500 homes, allowing infrastructure upgrades to be funded and delivered in a phased way over multiple investment cycles.

The taskforce has opened up conversations around a potential new water recycling centre for Grantham – plus the existing construction of a strategic pipeline and 20-million-litre storage reservoir to allow for thousands more homes in the years ahead.  

This is key for the East of England, one of the driest regions in the country but with one of the fastest growing populations and highest potential for growth, and follows previous Taskforce success in North Sussex, where around 21,000 homes have already been unlocked through collaborative work to resolve a four-year pause on development. 

These successes for the Water Delivery Taskforce show how strong collaboration and partnership between government, industry and local communities is accelerating the UK’s infrastructure revolution and delivering the housing the country needs.  

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 

This is another success story for the government’s Water Delivery Taskforce, which has already unblocked over 55,000 homes with solutions driven by pragmatic thinking and long-term strategy.  

We are unlocking growth and getting Britain building while protecting our precious water supplies. Under this government’s reforms, we are securing a brighter future with new homes and new jobs across the country.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer at Anglian Water said:  

Given the concentration and scale of growth in the East of England, we are at the forefront of many major infrastructure projects, including two new reservoirs, our Strategic Interconnecting Pipeline, hundreds of miles of modern pipes, water recycling infrastructure and nature-based solutions, such as wetlands.  

We are working with regulators to chart the path between environmental compliance and supporting growth, and through our work with Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce, Anglian Water is working with developers and local planning authorities at an earlier stage in the process to enable large scale developments of over 500 homes. This is an encouraging step forward in enabling us to deliver infrastructure upgrades over multiple investment cycles.

Earlier this year, the government also announced over 130,000 new homes will be built faster thanks to the New Homes Accelerator, established in 2024 to get spades in the ground more quickly by providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles. The government is also driving forward action to secure long-term water resilience, clean up waterways and modernise the water sector through a once-in-a-generation programme of reform.  

Having already reversed anti-supply measures in the National Planning Policy Framework, the government’s planning overhaul is beginning to bear fruit, with a 15% increase in new housing starts compared to last year. This is on top of the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act and further proposed changes to the Framework – the biggest rewrite of planning rules in over a decade.

Notes to editors: 

The developments closer to being built are:  

• Spitalgate Heath, Grantham, Lincolnshire: 3,400 homes, 300,000 sq ft of employment space, and 86,000 sq ft for the local centre. 
• Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community: 7,750 homes and 25 hectares of employment space. 
• Beccles, East Suffolk: 721 dwellings, plus 5 hectares of employment land for a primary school, retirement community and community hub with retail space.  
• Baldock, Hertfordshire: 3,200 homes and 16 hectares of employment. 
• Dunton Hills, Essex. 3,700 homes.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 July 2026.

New application process for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier opening environmental schemes to more farmers.

For the first time, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) will open to direct applications from farmers and land managers, helping more businesses secure funding to restore nature while producing food. 

Speaking at Groundswell Festival 2026 today (2 July), Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announced farmers and land managers will be able to apply for woodland agreements, agroforestry agreements and new single-focus agreements to restore species-rich grassland, with an initial cohort of up to 1,200 single-focus agreements available.  

When CSHT launched last September, farmers and land managers could only apply if invited by Natural England or the Forestry Commission as part of a phased rollout. From later this summer, this restriction will be lifted, allowing farmers and land managers to begin the application process themselves by submitting an Expression of Interest, opening the scheme to more applicants and giving them greater control over how they apply, helping them deliver more for nature, heritage and their businesses. 

The changes build on the government’s commitment to make environmental schemes more accessible and deliver the Farming Roadmap by giving farmers clearer routes into support while continuing to target funding where it can deliver the greatest environmental benefit.  

It follows the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) this week, designed to be simpler, fairer, and more accessible than ever before. As expected on opening Window 1, demand was strong on the first day, with a high number of applications. The latest data shows that application volumes have begun to level off, and applications are being received at a steady pace. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

Every thriving meadow restored, every historic landscape protected and every woodland managed more sustainably starts with farmers and land managers who care deeply.

The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will be simpler and easier for more applicants to access, giving more farmers and land managers the opportunity to invest in their businesses while helping to create a richer, greener countryside for future generations.

The expanded offer announced today will, for the first time, open applications to farmers and land managers without the need for an invitation, with support for restoring and managing species-rich grassland, improving woodland management, establishing agroforestry, and conserving scheduled monuments. 

This will help more farmers and land managers deliver environmental improvements while continuing food production, alongside continued support for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and HLS agreement holders whose agreements expire in 2026 or early 2027. 

Later this year, we will begin trialling applications on common land ahead of implementing a wider rollout. 

At least £50 million will be available for new CSHT agreements this year. Natural England will continue to prioritise farmers with agreements ending or those who have already completed the preparatory work needed to apply.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 June 2026.

A series of appointments and reappointments have been made to the boards of England’s National Park Authorities and National Landscape Conservation Boards.

Members of National Landscape Conservation Boards are responsible for ensuring that the Conservation Board advances the statutory purposes set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, specifically to conserve and improve the natural beauty of their designated area.

Caroline Cotterell and Emilie Brignall have been appointed to the Cotswolds National Landscape Board, both on three-year terms from 1 July 2026.

National Park Authority board members are responsible for ensuring that the Authority furthers its statutory purposes, specifically to preserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, as well as to provide opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy their unique attributes.

Tony Grayling has been reappointed to the Broads Authority and Lizzie Bushby to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, both for four-year terms.

All appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, with selections based solely on merit. Political activity plays no part in the selection process.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 June 2026.

£47 million new government funding to protect and improve peat will reduce carbon emissions, support nature recovery and boost rural economy.

Thousands of hectares of vital peatland will be better protected and managed thanks to nearly £50 million in new funding announced today (Monday 29 June). This will help to reduce carbon emissions, better protect rural communities from the risks of wildfire and flooding, and support local economies. 

England’s peat soils store more than half the country’s terrestrial carbon and are a powerful nature-based solution against climate change. But following centuries of drainage to make way for agriculture, our peat soils are drying out, causing the organic matter they contain to decompose and release carbon into the atmosphere. 

Today, 80% of England’s peatlands are in a dry and degraded state. By restoring and re-wetting peat, we can lock more carbon in the ground, support wildlife, increase resilience to drought and better protect communities from flooding.

Launching following London Climate Action Week, three different schemes are being funded to address different challenges across England’s varied peat landscapes: 

• The Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant (£36 million, delivered by the Environment Agency) funds local water projects to install infrastructure that raises and manages water tables in lowland peat soils, helping to protect peat and reduce carbon emissions. Previous pilot schemes have shown how effective this can be: water infrastructure installed across the Fens, Somerset Levels, and Yorkshire has helped to retain more water to protect our peat while managing flood risk. 
• The Paludiculture and Wetter Farming Fund (£10 million, delivered by Natural England) funds research into growing and harvesting crops on wetter peat soils and developing viable markets for them. Trials have seen wetland plants and bulrush transformed into building materials and insulation for jackets, demonstrating how cutting emissions from peat soils can go hand‑in‑hand with generating new income streams for farms. The new grants build on this evidence, scaling up what works to support larger, coordinated action across lowland peatland landscapes. 
• The Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant (£1.15 million, delivered by Defra) funds training, apprenticeships, equipment, and community engagement to grow the workforce and skills needed to deliver peatland restoration at greater scale into the future. 

The grants support different approaches in different peat landscapes. In lowland areas where farming continues, the focus is on protecting the peat through improved water management and more sustainable land use. In areas where restoration is planned or underway, the capacity grant will help to ensure we have the skilled workforce needed to deliver it faster. 

The measures announced seek to safeguard productive farming on some of our most valuable agricultural land, boost food security and support our rural economy.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:  

“Peatlands are as vital to the U.K. as the Amazon rainforest is to Brazil but too many of them are degraded and releasing carbon rather than locking it in.  

“These new grants will support better water management on farms, new types of wetter farming, or upskilling local people to restore peatland.”

Tony Grayling, Director of Nature and Place at the Environment Agency, said: 

“The Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant scheme is a significant opportunity for farmers and land managers to invest in the infrastructure needed to better protect peatlands for the future. 

“The Environment Agency is proud to be supporting Defra and local communities with these grants, which enable sustainable management of water levels in lowland peatlands, to reduce carbon emissions, provide water resilience and support nature recovery.”  

Sarah Dawkins, Deputy Director of Peatland Restoration at Natural England, said: 

“Natural England is delivering the Paludiculture and Wetter Farming Fund on behalf of Defra, supporting partnerships between businesses, land managers and communities to reduce drainage of lowland peatlands, whilst producing viable crops suited to wetter conditions. 

“These projects will deliver multiple benefits, including healthier ecosystems, improved water and soil management, greater climate resilience, and reduced carbon emissions.” 

This is a practical example of Defra delivering against the Environmental Improvement Plan and supporting the Land Use Framework’s approach to using land in ways that work for food production, nature and climate together. 

Additional information: 

These schemes are open for applications, full details of eligibility and how to apply are available at: 

• Lowland Peat Water Infrastructure Grant – information on how to apply can be found on the GOV.UK website. Applications can be submitted until 18 September.
• The Paludiculture and Wetter Farming Fund – applications can be submitted on the Defra eCommercial portal until 23 August. 
• The Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant – applications can be submitted via the government’s Find a Grant website until 23 July. 

The three schemes are part of the wider 2026–2030 Peat Programme announced in the Environmental Improvement Plan, worth approximately £85 million in total. 

They sit alongside the Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant, the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, and the England Peat Map. 

Defra, the Environment Agency and Natural England, together with support from the Association of Drainage Authorities, will work with farmers, land managers, Internal Drainage Boards, local authorities, water companies, eNGOs, farming organisations, innovators and restoration partnerships to support practical delivery on the ground.  

The government has set a target to restore 280,000 hectares of peatland by 2050.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 June 2026.

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan welcomes Defra’s global network of agri-food attachés’ for their annual Industry Engagement Week.

British food and farming businesses will benefit from £80 million in new export opportunities this year, as the government’s agri-food attachés unlocked global trade barriers, including genetics exports to USA, cheese exports to Brazil and trout access in China. 

So far this year, 20 barriers have already been resolved by the attaché network, including a new streamlined Chinese export registration process that will save businesses £50 million annually.  

Additional breakthroughs include delivering new market access for British poultry and eggs in the UAE, a significant win for exporting processed animal protein in Indonesia worth £10 million annually, and new approvals for cookie dough exports to India and UK seafood access in Kuwait. 

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan welcomed the agri-food attachés back to the UK for a week of intensive engagement with British food and farming businesses. The attachés met producers, farmers and small businesses to discuss how the government can help them capitalise on the UK’s new trade deals and the forthcoming EU-UK SPS Agreement, which will remove barriers with the UK’s biggest agri-food trade market. 

The week saw the attachés travel to Essex, visiting the world-famous Wilkin & Sons jam factory and fruit farm in Tiptree and the award-winning Danbury Ridge vineyard to mark English Wine Week, meeting passionate producers to help boost exports of these world-renowned products from the UK. 

Alongside these visits, the attachés met around 100 food and drink businesses and industry associations spanning the breadth of the sector – from meat and dairy producers to drinks makers, small businesses and speciality food exporters – discussing how government can best support them in seizing the opportunities ahead. 

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said:

Our agri-attachés are Britain’s boots on the ground for food and farming trade. Embedded in key markets from the USA to East Asia, they use their local knowledge and diplomatic connections to cut through barriers that would otherwise take years to resolve.

The results speak for themselves, with £80 million in opportunities unlocked this year alone, delivering real growth for British businesses.

As global appetite for UK food and drink continues to grow, the attaché network will keep playing a critical role to help British businesses build a lasting presence in the world’s most important markets.

Food and Drink Federation Director of Sustainability & Growth Balwinder Dhoot Said:

The agri-food attaché network provides valuable in-market support to businesses and is a key part of our goal to reach £35bn in UK food and drink exports by 2035.

We are looking forward to working more closely with the attaches going forward to deliver strong benefits for the UK’s 12,000 food and drink manufacturers.

The engagement week comes on the back of a strong year for the network amid a challenging trading environment and geopolitical uncertainty. In 2025, the attachés resolved 55 export barriers estimated to be worth £127 million annually, from securing pork access to Mexico to removing costly obstacles for dairy exports to Egypt. 

Last year, two UK dairy establishments were approved to export to Brazil, an important step in boosting exports to this growing market and seeing more British dairy on Brazilian shelves. 

Under the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, the government has secured a 13k Mt quota for British beef into the high-value US market, worth up to £70m. We have also seen new access for ovine genetics grow UK exports to more than £2.5m according to industry estimates, showcasing our world leading sheep breeds. 

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 June 2026.

Half a million hectares to help deliver for nature recovery and climate adaptation, strengthening climate resilience.

A new, smarter way of using Government-owned land will support nature recovery, climate adaptation and the resilience of public services under new plans set out today (Friday 26 June).

Bringing together action across more than 577,000 hectares – roughly 4% of England’s land – the Government Estate Nature Plan moves from fragmented, site‑by‑site efforts to a more coordinated, whole estate approach, strengthening resilience and helping protect critical public services from climate impacts.

By minimising disruption caused by water shortages and wildfires, healthy ecosystems can play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The focus will be to both support nature and build infrastructure resilience.

As the largest landowner in England, the Government is uniquely placed to help drive nature recovery across the country through actions like woodland creation and peatland restoration, setting an example for other large landowners. For the first time, government is applying the Land Use Framework to its own estate; managing land more strategically to deliver for nature alongside core public services.

The plan, being published during London Climate Action Week, will see a series of ‘lighthouse’ projects – funded pilot projects on operational land including defence training areas, transport corridors and prison grounds, demonstrating how nature recovery can support essential public services. The evidence from these projects will be used to inform future, larger-scale projects.

Recent independent research indicates the government estate has capacity to generate ecosystem services valued at £67 billion from natural capital maintained in good condition.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

“As the largest landowner in the country, government has a unique opportunity to work with others to show how nature can be restored at scale while delivering essential public services.

“This new plan is the first of its kind globally and will ensure progress towards our goal to protect 30% of our land and seas by 2030.”

Carl von Reibnitz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ministry of Justice said:

“The Government Estate Nature Plan reflects what the Ministry of Justice has already learned: managing natural assets well is an operational necessity, not an environmental add-on.

“From our prison tree nurseries supplying government planting schemes to Community Payback teams delivering habitat restoration, justice already contributes to nature recovery at scale. We welcome this plan and look forward to building on that contribution through the GENP.”  

Rosie Hails, Nature, Land & Evidence Director at the National Trust said:

“The government’s plan to drive change for nature through its own estate is a welcome and necessary step. We can only meaningfully tackle the nature crisis if everyone involved in how land is used plays a part – owners, managers, farmers, businesses and communities. 

“Publicly owned land offers a real opportunity to show what’s possible. As a member of the National Estate for Nature group, we’re pleased to be working in partnership with government and other landowners to share expertise and restore nature at scale together.”

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

“Natural England has worked alongside Defra to establish this influential group of landowners, who have collectively demonstrated great ambition towards national targets for Nature’s recovery. 

“Individually they make big contributions, and their combined impact can be huge. Today’s publication of the Government Estate for Nature plan shows the government shares in their ambition. 

“Our National Nature Reserves are exemplars of nature recovery and Natural England will continue with its high pace programme of declaring new ones. This will not only benefit Nature but also to support communities and improve our collective resilience to climate change.”

Forestry England Chief Executive Mike Seddon said:

“Forestry England is the country’s biggest land manager and the 254,000 hectares that make up the nation’s forests hold a variety of habitats and an abundance of wildlife.

“Our long-term stewardship of this critical natural asset delivers many public benefits from high-quality timber and nature recovery to improving citizens’ health and wellbeing, and our work contributes to the wider economy.

“We have a strong track record on successful nature recovery projects, working in partnership, such as reintroducing pine martens to the Forest of Dean and white-tailed eagles to the south coast.

“Our wild areas, such as Wild Ennerdale, are places for innovation and we have ambitions to expand them to 38,000 hectares by 2031. We care for almost 70,000 hectares of SSSIs and we want pine marten ranges covering 100,000 hectares of the nation’s forests.”

The Government Estate Nature Plan is part of a collective of plans published by members of the National Estate for Nature, a coalition of major landowners who together manage a tenth of England’s land, including the National Trust, The Crown Estate, the Church Commissioners, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the RSPB. 

In publishing these plans, members are demonstrating how they meet the NEN’s collective ambition and minimum standard, through setting out where and what type of land they hold and how they will work to increase or improve important habitats, such as Clinton Devon Estates who are restoring wetlands and creating new woodland.

Examples of targets to boost nature recovery by 2030 include the Church Commissioners aiming to see 80% of farms adopt nature-friendly farming practices and United Utilities planting 1 million trees. The Crown Estate’s new long-term environmental Farm Business Tenancies will support farmers in their aim to transition 15% of farmland to nature recovery, including planting 1,000km of new hedgerows by 2035. Members will continue to work closely together, applying the government’s Land Use Framework principles and participating in Local Nature Recovery Strategies.  

By managing land more strategically, the government and NEN partners will help deliver Environment Act targets on biodiversity, water quality and woodland cover, while supporting the UK’s international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030. 

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 June 2026.

The 25-year Farming Roadmap gives English farmers certainty beyond the next harvest for the first time.

For the first time in this country’s history, the government is today committing to the future of farming beyond the next harvest, ending years of uncertainty with a landmark roadmap that marks the most significant moment for English agriculture since the Second World War. 

Farmers produce around 65% of the nation’s food, manage 70% of England’s land, and underpin the £153 billion agri-food sector recognised as Critical National Infrastructure. With the growing impacts of extreme weather and climate, Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future sets out how farmers can adapt through nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and water management. 

Developed in partnership with farmers, the roadmap sets out how the government will provide long-term stability. Backed by immediate action from the government’s response to Baroness Minette Batters’ independent Farming Profitability Review, farmers will have better access to the tools, technology, skills and supply chains they need to invest, innovate and grow.  

Collaborative models such as co-operatives will play a much larger role, enabling collective purchasing and joint investment that lower costs, spread risk and support stronger returns.  

An additional £53 million for the Farming Innovation Programme brings total innovation funding this year to £123 million, including dedicated funding rounds focused on robotics and soil health and water management.  

The government will also review how the economic value of agriculture is measured, ensuring farming receives the recognition it deserves. A single figure of 0.6% of Gross Value Added is misleading because it captures only primary agricultural activities. Working with the Office for National Statistics, the government will look to develop new supplementary statistics to include the wider food supply chain, from processing and manufacturing to distribution and retail.

Seasonal Worker visas will continue until at least 2030, providing reassurance to the UK horticulture sector. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:   

Farmers feed our nation and manage the land that shapes our countryside, yet their contribution has never been valued in the way it deserves. Our roadmap marks a shift away from only looking to the next harvest and towards a plan that gives farmers the long-term clarity they need to innovate, invest and grow with confidence for generations to come.

I have spent every day in this role rebuilding our relationship with farmers brick by brick because they’re such an important part of our economy, our society and our environment. We are looking at how farming is valued economically and socially to ensure it receives the recognition it deserves.

To boost profits and productivity, the government will work in partnership with industry to create Sector Growth Plans starting with horticulture and poultry and bring farmers, retailers and investors together on the Farming and Food Partnership Board. It will also cut EU trade friction through a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement and give egg and fresh produce growers legal protection against unfair supply chain practices. 

To build resilience, the roadmap sets out how farmers can reduce reliance on costly inputs like fertiliser through new technology and smarter nutrient management and adapt to the growing impacts of extreme weather and climate change through nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and water management. Multiple government services will, over time, be replaced with a single digital farming account to reduce administrative burdens, alongside improved data quality and standards to enable access to private markets. 

On sustainability, Environmental Land Management schemes will become more focused and better targeted, with mitigation and conversion payments phased out over time as good practice becomes standard practice with regulatory standards increasing in some areas, while long-term payments for public goods such as habitat creation will continue. 

While the roadmap sets the long-term direction, the government response to the Farming Profitability Review reflects immediate action to improve farm profitability now. Measures being taken forward include:  

• Extending supply chain fair dealing regulations to egg producers and fresh produce 
• Launching a dedicated task-and-finish group to unlock private sector investment in sustainable farming 
• Establishing a new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary area to cut export friction 
• Opening the new SFI26 application window to all eligible farmers this month 
• Opening the new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund this summer to support groups of farmers to grow their businesses, build partnerships and share best practice 
• Transferring the Groceries Code Adjudicator from the Department of Business and Trade to Defra to support a more joined-up approach to food supply chain fairness 
• Considering changes to the National Planning Policy Framework following recent consultation, including proposals to make the system more supportive of the infrastructure farmers need.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2026.

New rules will ensure everyday products sold in the UK including coffee and cocoa do not contribute to illegal deforestation around the world.

The world’s rainforests are to be better protected from deforestation as the government will confirm today (Tuesday 23 June), during London Climate Action Week, that plans to take forward new rules in Great Britain including using powers in the Environment Act alongside legislation strengthening the UK Timber Regulation.

Under the proposals UK businesses who trade in commodities sourced from rainforests such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber will need to check that their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation. These products are commonly found in everyday supermarket products including chocolate, cooking oils, shampoo and cosmetics.

UK companies have been at the forefront of global efforts to tackle deforestation within their supply chains, but voluntary action alone cannot tackle this global challenge, and several major supermarkets have been calling for stronger regulation.

This move will protect the habitats of some of the world’s most precious and endangered species, while giving British consumers confidence that the products in their shopping baskets are not contributing to illegal deforestation.

Rainforests and other forests are vital for storing carbon and sustaining biodiversity, yet they are increasingly threatened by deforestation. Around 90% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion, much of it linked to the production of internationally traded commodities. In 2023, the UK’s consumption of these goods was associated with approximately 29,000 hectares of deforestation worldwide – around one and a half times the size of Manchester – and 9.4 million tonnes of related carbon emissions.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

“Tackling global deforestation is one of the most effective ways we can address climate change and protect some of the world’s most unique and precious wildlife.

“That is why we are leading by example and scrutinising our own supply chains. Eliminating products linked to illegal deforestation not only helps to protect precious ecosystems but is good for our collective resilience and long-term prosperity.”

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the BRC, said:

“Retailers welcome today’s announcement. We have long called for UK deforestation regulation as an important step in driving forest conservation across retail supply chains in line with business commitments, while supporting alignment with the EU where possible to avoid unnecessary costs and complexity for retailers and their customers.

“However, with the EU regulation due to take effect in Northern Ireland at the end of the year, it is important that the Government takes a pragmatic approach to enforcement to minimise disruption for businesses and consumers.”

Gavin Crowden, Director of Advocacy at WWF, said:

“The UK Government has warned that the collapse of tropical forests in places like the Amazon and Indonesia is a national security risk, not just an environmental one. We rely on these forests for food and climate stability, and they’re home to extraordinary wildlife. With new rules finally coming into force in Northern Ireland at the end of the year, there is no excuse for further delay that would leave shoppers in the rest of the UK still unwittingly driving the destruction of the rainforest.”

These new measures will help businesses better identify and reduce the risk that their imported products are linked to illegal deforestation and land clearing. The government will consult businesses, civil society and international partners later this year on the details of the proposed GB deforestation policy. This will include consulting on the introduction of these mandatory due diligence requirements for businesses in Great Britain including using powers such as under the Environment Act which target illegal deforestation, and by strengthening the existing UK Timber Regulation.

To maintain Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access to both the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market, the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) will apply in Northern Ireland in phases starting 30 December 2026.

Crucially, to protect the UK Internal Market and streamline compliance, the upcoming consultation will propose that the GB regime covers the same core commodities and underlying information requirements as the regulation in Northern Ireland. This aligned approach is designed to prevent administrative duplication across the UK while helping British exporters to the EU meet consistent data and traceability standards. Businesses in Northern Ireland are encouraged to begin preparations now.

In due course, the Government’s ambition is to transition to a deforestation-free standard which will require relevant products to be produced free from any deforestation, building on stakeholder efforts globally to decouple supply chains from forest loss and land conversion.

These changes help deliver on the UK’s commitment under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, agreed at COP26, to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It also supports the cross-government 2035 International Climate, Nature & Energy Strategic Framework.

The changes will improve the transparency, traceability and resilience of UK agricultural commodity and timber supply chains, and support smooth trade with the EU through delivering on our Windsor Framework commitments.

Further details on the GB deforestation regulations consultation process will be announced in due course.