Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 August 2023.

Appointments have been made to England’s National Park Authorities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Boards.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 21 August 2023.

Robert Wilson’s second term as a board member will run until December 2026.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 August 2023.

More opportunities for sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries outside the EU through commercial and recreational fishing.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 August 2023.

Growers, farmers, processors and the public are asked to remain vigilant after the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed findings of Colorado potato beetle larvae in Kent.

On Friday 11 August Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed the finding of a single adult male Colorado beetle within the 1km surveillance zone in Kent. This provides evidence of the value of our rigorous inspection activities to date.

No additional colony has been detected and given the estimated age of the beetle it’s likely that this specimen probably dispersed from the original site. Surveillance for any possible undetected colonies will continue within the 1km zone.

We are actively following up public reports, all of which have been negative for Colorado beetle. We wish to encourage continued vigilance from industry and the public and will update the plant health portal with any further press notices.

This finding follows beetle larvae which was identified in a field in Kent earlier this summer, on Tuesday 11 July. This was confirmed by Defra and the APHA as Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).

Confirmation was made following laboratory diagnosis of samples taken by APHA’s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate. It is the first time an outbreak of the beetle has been confirmed in the UK since 1977, although they are endemic in large parts of Europe.

APHA is working closely with the affected grower to eradicate the pest from the site, including performing a 1km survey to determine whether there are further cases beyond the immediately infested area.

If not eradicated, Colorado potato beetles are a significant threat to potato crops. The adult beetles and larvae feed on the foliage of potato and other plants in the nightshade family and can completely strip them of their leaves if they are left uncontrolled. However, they are not a threat to human or animal health.

UK Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence said:

Following a report, our experts have identified the presence of Colorado beetle larvae in a potato field in Kent.

We are responding swiftly through our eradication programme, involving ground surveillance to look for beetles and larvae at the outbreak site and surrounding area.

Whilst this pest does not pose a threat to human health, we encourage all growers, farmers, processors and the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings, especially in Kent.

The beetle is not endemic to the UK and is currently regulated as a Great Britain quarantine pest, with import and movement restrictions in place for susceptible host material. APHA is obligated to act upon the current findings and eradicate this pest to support our efforts to maintain this status. Statutory Notices will be issued to ensure the containment and eradication of this pest is undertaken.

Farmers and growers in particular are being encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of the pest. The beetle is bright yellow or orange with black stripes and is usually between 8.5-11.5mm in length and 3mm in width. Its larvae are a reddish brown in colour, round and globular, and up to 15mm in length.

Although distinctive in appearance, there are several beetles that are frequently mistaken for them. The Colorado potato beetle plant pest factsheet provides more information about the beetle’s life cycle and provides information on how to differentiate it from some of our native and introduced species.

The beetles are occasionally imported into the UK from continental Europe as ‘hitchhikers’ on non-host plant material, such as leafy vegetables, salad leaves, fresh herbs and grain and are reported to the UK Plant Health Service who act on the findings. In the past 70 years, there have been two outbreaks of Colorado potato beetles in the UK, one in 1976 and one in 1977. Both outbreaks were eradicated shortly after detection.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 August 2023.

Action to improve the River Deben discussed at roundtable, part of a series of local meetings following government’s Plan for Water.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 August 2023.

New round of Air Quality Grants for local authorities opens to benefit communities and reduce the impact of polluted air on people’s health.

• Councils across England invited to bid for funding to tackle local air pollution.
• Previously funded projects include awareness programmes for schoolchildren, e-cargo bike libraries and upskilling healthcare workers on air quality issues.
• Annual fund forms part of wider Government action to protect public health and the environment by cleaning up our air.

Local authorities across England can now apply for a share of £6 million of government funding to deliver projects to improve air quality.

The annual Air Quality Grant helps councils develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and communities and reduce the impact of air pollution on people’s health. Since 2010, more than £53 million has been awarded across more than 500 projects through the scheme.

Funding will be prioritised towards projects which: tackle particulate matter; improve public awareness of the impacts of air pollution; and help local authorities to bring down levels of nitrogen oxide (NO2) and other pollutants to below legal limits.

Air quality in the UK has significantly improved in recent decades, with levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – the most harmful pollutant to human health – falling by 10% and NO2 by 45% since 2010. The government is committed to driving this down further and, through the Environment Act, has set two legally-binding targets to reduce the level of PM2.5 in our air by 2040.

Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said:

Poor air quality is the biggest environmental risk to human health and local authorities play a vital role in tackling it.

This latest round of funding will support innovative projects across England that give communities the tools to limit their exposure and reduce pollution.

Together, this will build on the significant improvements in air quality delivered by the government at a national level and deliver cleaner air for all.

Previous initiatives funded through the Air Quality Grant scheme include delivering an air quality awareness programme to over 3,000 students in Cornwall. The grant has also funded an e-cargo bike library, helping local businesses in Norfolk to cut operating costs while lowering their emissions; and helped train healthcare professionals in Southampton so they can advise vulnerable patients about how to reduce their exposure to air pollution. These projects have benefited communities by delivering targeted solutions to local air quality problems.

Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

Air pollution poses health risks, particularly for older people, children, and people with heart or lung conditions which is why we’re committed to making our air cleaner.

This year’s fund builds on the significant action we’re already taking to improve air quality, and I urge local authorities across England to bid for funding to help improve the health of people living in their areas.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

The £1 million our region received through the Air Quality Fund will make a significant contribution to the work already underway to improve the quality of the air local people breathe.

For the first time ever, we’ll be able to install a West Midlands-wide network of sensors that will provide real-time, publicly accessible information on air quality directly from individual neighbourhoods. Thanks to this government funding, we’ll also take this data back into those communities to improve residents’ understanding of the sources and impact of air pollution on health and wellbeing.

Together, we can empower local people to support our efforts to ensure the air we all breathe is cleaner than ever.

Through the Environmental Improvement Plan and our Air Quality Strategy, both published earlier this year, we have set out interim targets to reduce concentrations of, and reduce public exposure to, PM2.5 by the end of January 2028, alongside a range of policies to work towards these targets.

Together, the Plan and the Strategy committed to challenging councils to improve air quality more quickly including by making better use of existing powers, increasing transparency and improving the way they communicate with the public. Today’s announcement is another key step forward in the delivery of these commitments.

The scheme complements the range of support government is making available to local authorities, including £883 million allocated under the NO2 Programme – which works with local authorities to deliver air quality measures to improve the health of residents and to address their NO2 exceedances in the shortest possible time.

The application window is now open and closes on 29th September. Local authorities can apply for funding on Atamis here.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 August 2023.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is proposing management measures to protect the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in England.

On 5 July 2023, HPMA designations came into effect in Allonby Bay, North East of Farnes Deep and Dolphin Head, granting them the highest level of protection in our seas.

MMO is now proposing specific management measures that will support the recovery of the HPMAs to a more natural state.

HPMAs are areas of the sea, including shore, seabed, sea surface and water column, that have been set aside with high levels of protection. This allows for the full recovery to a natural state of all marine species, enhancing fish populations, habitats and associated ecosystem processes within the site boundary.

The first proposed MMO byelaws will seek to prohibit fishing activity in all HPMAs in line with their highly protected status. Other, non-fishing, activities will be assessed and may also require management in future.

As part of the byelaw making process marine stakeholders, partner organisations and fishers are being given an opportunity to view and comment on the proposed management measures from 3 August to 14 September 2023.

A formal notification and notice period will be implemented ahead of any fisheries management measures being introduced. This is expected to be completed in early 2024.

Hilary Florek, Chair of MMO said:

“HPMAs will play a key role in helping to recover vital marine ecosystems around our coastline. With England’s first three HPMAs now officially designated, it’s MMO’s role to make sure activities including marine developments, fisheries and recreational marine activities, are professionally managed in accordance with the high level of protection required by these sites. To achieve this, we are taking the first steps and proposing specific fishing management measures for HPMAs.’’

Marine Minister Lord Benyon said:

“Highly Protected Marine Areas will make sure that important species and habitats are protected whilst building on our mission to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030.

“These management measures will help to support the full recovery of precious underwater environments, enhancing fish populations so that we can deliver on key environmental goals and targets while supporting a sustainable fishing industry.”

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 August 2023.

Over £14 million is being made available in two new competition rounds to back research into innovative farming solutions.

More than £14 million is to be made available to unlock innovation and develop solutions in the farming sector in two new research and feasibility competitions under the Farming Innovation Programme, Defra has announced today (Wednesday 2 August).

It is part of the government’s delivery of its commitment to invest £600 million in innovation and productivity in the sector over three years, and adds further support to the development and take-up of innovative practices on farms to boost productivity and sustainability whilst meeting net zero targets.

The competitions are open to farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses involved in agriculture to collaborate on novel ideas and solutions.

Previous rounds have led to investment in automations to improve soft fruit yield; a ‘herd’ of lightweight, battery-operated, asparagus-harvesting robots; and the use of ultraviolet as a disinfectant in the dairy and poultry sectors.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

These competitions are all about encouraging collaborations between farmers and growers on the one hand, and research organisations and industry on the other, to help bring ideas from the planning stage into practice.

The success of the previous competition rounds and the broad scope of ideas coming forward showcase the range of possibilities available for driving up productivity and solving some of the industry’s biggest challenges. I encourage everyone to take a look at what’s on offer in the latest competitions and apply.

Defra is today publishing guidance for the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition, which seeks to help businesses develop a new farming product or service and take it to commercialisation on the open market. Worth almost £10 million, it has been developed in partnership with the Transforming Food Production Challenge and is delivered by Innovate UK.

The second round of the competition has already funded projects including exploring how to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint to help sheep farmers contribute to the journey towards net zero, and a project combining generation of electricity with growing berries to power operational processes such as automated picking, sensors and vehicles.

It comes alongside new guidance for a £4.5 million Feasibility Studies competition which aims to support businesses and researchers through the difficult testing phase of an idea, checking whether it works in practice and helping them assess whether to invest in a project.

It looks for early-stage solutions that have the potential to substantially improve the overall productivity, sustainability and resilience of farming, and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero.

Successful applicants in previous rounds include a study to identify fungal strains that can help fight against insect and fungal pests in wheat crops, reducing the costs associated with multiple applications of chemical pesticides, mechanical damage from repeated spray applications and crop yield losses.

Farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses are encouraged to read the guidance ahead of applications opening.

Applications for the Small R&D Partnerships competition open on 14 August and the Feasibility Studies competition window is open from 18 September.

Dr Katrina Hayter, Executive Director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK, said:

We look forward to supporting the next round of applicants and identifying promising partnerships that hold the potential to address the sustainability, efficiency, and net zero challenges confronting the UK’s agrifood industry.

Feasibility studies mark the initial stage in researching an idea that could improve farming, while small R&D partnerships are a vital step to empowering businesses to forge novel farming products and services, paving the way towards successful commercialisation.

By fostering collaborations between farmers, growers, agri-businesses and researchers, these partnerships become the driving force behind transforming innovative solutions into practical applications.

Since opening in October 2021, 16 competitions have launched under the government’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme and, as of August 2023, more than £123 million in funding to industry-led research and development in agriculture and horticulture has been announced.

The importance of innovation in the food and farming sectors was highlighted at the recent Farm to Fork Summit where the government announced a package of support for the farming sector, including new measures to ensure the sector remains at the forefront of adopting new technologies and techniques.

This included the On-Farm Environmental Resilience competition, which will see up to £12.5 million awarded to projects driving the development of new technology and innovative farming methods, with a focus on practical solutions to make a real difference on farms. The competition closed at the end of last month and projects will be notified of the outcome of their applications in the autumn.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 July 2023.

Figures show massive decrease in number of single-use bags sold by main retailers since 2014.

More than 7 billion harmful plastic bags have been prevented from blighting our streets and countryside thanks to the single-use carrier bag charge, new figures announced by Environment Minister Rebecca Pow today (31 July) show.

A 5p charge was first introduced in supermarkets in 2015. Since then, usage at the main retailers – Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Group, Tesco and Waitrose – has dropped by more than 98%.

The average person in England now buys just two single-use carrier bags a year from these businesses, compared with around 140 in 2014 before the charge was introduced.

The number of single-use carrier bags reported as sold by the main retailers was 133 million in 2022/23, down from 197 million in 2021/2022, representing a reduction of 33%. This is a huge drop from the 7.6 billion used in 2014.

In 2021, the charge was increased to 10p and extended to all businesses. This has helped bring the number of bags used down by more than 35% from 627 million in 2019/20 to 406 million in 2022/23.

Meanwhile, retailers have voluntarily donated more than £206 million from the proceeds to good causes in education, arts, heritage, sports, environment, health and charity or volunteering sectors since the charge’s introduction.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Our charge has helped to stop billions of single-use carrier bags littering our neighbourhoods or heading to landfill while ensuring millions of pounds go to good causes.

We are determined to do more to tackle plastic pollution at source, with further bans on single-use products starting in October and our deposit return scheme will cut litter and drive up recycling rates. We continue to encourage all relevant retailers to play their part in further reducing the use of single-use carrier bags.

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said:

Retailers have worked closely with the government over the single-use bag charges to ensure it has been an industry-wide success – with 98% fewer bags used across the biggest grocery retailers. It has also generated millions in funds that retailers have donated to a variety of good causes.

The success of the carrier bag charge builds on the government’s action to turn the tide on plastic waste. In 2018 the government announced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and in 2020 we introduced restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds.

The government also introduced a tax of more than £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic in April 2022.

Through the Environment Act, the government is bringing in further measures to tackle plastic pollution and litter. This includes introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and plans for simpler recycling collections for every household and business in England.

A range of polluting single-use plastics will be banned in England from 1 October 2023. The restrictions will include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 July 2023.

Organisations are also encouraged to apply if they would like to be ‘responsible bodies’ for new conservation legal agreements.

New nature positive developments moved a step closer today with additional government support announced to enable the rollout of Biodiversity Net Gain.

Many housing developers are already successfully operating Biodiversity Net Gain recognising the benefits for people and nature. From later this year, it will be mandatory meaning all major developments will required to deliver a 10% benefit for nature.

Biodiversity Net Gain was introduced through the world-leading Environment Act and is a key part of the government’s commitment to halt species decline by 2030. By mandating the creation of new habitat and green spaces when building new housing, commercial or infrastructure developments, we will be able deliver the beautiful homes that the country’s needs – benefitting people and nature.

To help the roll out, over £9 million of funding is being committed today to help local authorities recruit additional ecologists and specialists – creating the new green jobs of the future. This will help local authorities better safeguard and enhance habitats during the development process.

Trudy Harrison Nature Minister said:

Biodiversity net gain will bring nature closer to where people live, creating greener and more beautiful communities. Today’s funding and guidance is the next step towards delivering this important part of our Environment Act, which will come into force later this year. This will support green jobs across the country and unlock further investment in nature’s recovery.

From today, relevant organisations are also encouraged to apply from today for ‘responsible body status’ to allow them to enter into conservation covenant agreements with landowners.

Conservation covenants are a new type of legal agreement which will help secure the conservation of natural and heritage features of our landscape, including but not limited to the delivery of offsite Biodiversity Net Gain. To take part organisations will need to check they are eligible on the published criteria and apply to Defra for recognition. Covenants will be entirely voluntary agreements proposed by willing landowners.

Rob Perrins, Chief Executive, Berkeley Group, said:

Biodiversity net gain will be an important step forward for our industry, ensuring new developments support nature’s recovery and create the healthy and sustainable places local communities need. Putting this into practice on 54 sites has been a hugely positive experience for Berkeley Group and we know that the benefits far outweighed the challenges involved.

Today’s announcement will provide greater certainty ahead of the go live date in November and we will continue to work in partnership with Defra, Natural England and our local authorities to make biodiversity net gain a success.

Biodiversity Net Gain will exclusively apply to new applications for planning permission with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.

Further information:

Biodiversity Net Gain

• We have confirmed 9.61m this financial year to April 2024. This adds to the 6.16m announced in February to a total of 15.76m over the transition period.
• Biodiversity improvements on-site will be encouraged, but in circumstances where they are not possible, developers will be able to pay for improvements on other sites elsewhere by purchasing “units” via a private, off-site market or as a last resort from a government scheme. The price list for this Biodiversity Net Gain statutory biodiversity credit scheme has also been published today. A Biodiversity Gain Sites Register, which will record off-site biodiversity gains and their allocation to developments, will launch in November.
• The price list for the Biodiversity Net Gain statutory biodiversity credit scheme has been published here. Statutory biodiversity credits are the last resort option for developers when delivering their biodiversity net gain and will complement off-site net gain in delivering strategic habitat creation across England. Prices are set purposefully above anticipated private market prices for biodiversity units, to avoid undercutting the market. Prices are set by Defra. Natural England will sell credits on behalf of the Secretary of State.
• To be eligible to purchase statutory biodiversity credits a developer must provide evidence to the Local Planning Authority that on-site and off-site options are not available. Revenue from the sale of credits will be used to run the scheme and invest in habitat delivery in England.
• The statutory credits sales service will launch when biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory and guidance will be published before BNG becomes mandatory across England.
• When biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory, it will require the statutory metric to be used. There will be a transitional period where Natural England’s existing biodiversity metric 4.0 will be accepted by local authorities and the biodiversity gain site register. The statutory metric will become available once laid in Parliament in November. The statutory metric will be published on Gov.uk with the statutory metric calculation tool available to download from Natural England’s Access to Evidence page.