Tag: Emma Reynolds

The speech made by Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris on 12 February 2026.

Good evening, bonsoir, mesdames et messieurs. Distinguished guests, colleagues and friends. Thank you for welcoming me to Paris this evening.

And thank you Andrew for that kind and rather cheesy introduction.

Je suis ravie d’etre ici ce soir avec vous. Paris occupe une place toute particulière dans mon cœur. J’ai travaillé en France dans ma tendre jeunesse à l’âge 19 ans comme serveuse a la gare de Lyon Partdieu. J’en ai retenu deux choses essentielles: l’importance d’un service de qualité… et une passion toujours aussi intense pour le fromage, la charcuterie et le vin français.

And in fact, when I reflect on my time living here in France I can see some similarities between being a waitress and being a politician – you’re working long hours, serving the people, and also, alas, dealing with complaints – but unfortunately, we politicians can’t blame the kitchen when things go wrong!

This impressive residence – Hotel Charost – has a rich history. The Duke of Wellington bought it off Napoleon’s sister, but don’t worry; the money and indeed the gold Britain paid for it was used by the French emperor to finance his return from exile!

And this residence has served for over 200 years as a place where British and French people have come together to discuss the issues of the moment and explore the opportunities ahead.

That is exactly what I want to do this evening with you.

Today has been a day full of rich conversations.

I had the great pleasure of meeting my French counterpart, Minister Annie Genevard, to discuss the future of our farming sectors, international trade and the agreement that we are negotiating between the UK and the EU on sanitary and phytosanitary rules – un accord sur les normes sanitaires et phytosanitaires – which you can see why we shorten to “SPS agreement”.

I have also had meetings with Ambassador Olivier Poivre D’Arvor to discuss our shared ocean priorities – from marine protected areas to the plastics treaty.

And Ambassador Barbara Pompili and I covered the biodiversity agenda, including our joint work on biodiversity credits.

What struck me throughout today’s meetings was a common thread: a shared commitment to high standards, practical cooperation, and the understanding that the challenges we face – from climate to food security to ocean health – do not respect borders. And that we can stand tall in the world, working together in partnership to solve these challenges.

Why food security matters now

And that reminded me of something I learnt from my many years working in Brussels.

That the relationship between the United Kingdom and our European neighbours is not simply a matter of treaties and trade statistics, as important as they are. It is built on something deeper.

We have shared values, shared culture and a shared history. And most importantly we have a shared future.

As the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said yesterday, Britain’s future is inextricably bound with Europe’s future. For economic reasons, for security, for resilience and for defence. Geography matters in our world today. None of the trade agreements the UK has done around the world are as important as our trade arrangements with the EU.

That is why our Labour government committed to the British people that we would reset and deliver on the partnership with our European friends. And that is exactly what we are doing.

Because this partnership, based on our shared values, matters even more in this uncertain world.

War on our continent, with the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Increasing geopolitical tensions.

New biosecurity threats – plant and animal diseases that do not respect borders.

All these challenges demand greater cooperation, not isolation.

And climate change is placing unprecedented pressure on food systems, biodiversity, and the natural resources we all depend upon.

This is not a distant threat. Droughts, floods, extreme weather events – are already disrupting harvests, straining supply chains, and driving up costs for farmers and consumers alike.

Food security has direct consequences for the safety and wellbeing of our populations. In this new geopolitical reality, it is inseparable from national security.

That is why food security has become a strategic priority for governments across Europe – and why the strength of our relationships with our closest partners matters more than ever.

For our shared security. And our shared prosperity.

UK-France food systems are deeply connected

The English Channel, la Manche, is one of Europe’s most important food corridors.

Every day, high-value, time-sensitive goods cross in both directions, serving consumers and supporting producers on both sides.

France exports over €7 billion euros in agri-food products to the UK each year.

In return the UK exports over €3 billion euros of such produce to France.

French produce on British tables; British products in French markets.

Indeed, some of the finest French produce can be found in some of the best French restaurants – many of which are of course in London.

French wine, cheese, chocolate and croissants are fantastically popular back home amongst the French expats but also les roast bifs.

I must confess a particular weakness for a good Côtes du Rhône or indeed Burgundy.

I read of President Macron’s visit to the trade show, Wine Paris, just this week, championing French producers and seeking new markets.

We share that instinct: to support our agricultural sectors, defend quality, and find partners who value what we grow and make.

And I’m sure that many of you have your own British favourites. I know that British salmon, whisky and lamb are valued in French restaurants and markets. Some of you might even drink a morning cup of tea.

These flows of agri-food products represent millions of meals, thousands of livelihoods, and generations of trade built on trust. And something more, that the French know better than anyone else, food is culture.

What crosses the Channel reflects not just commerce, but connection.

Our supply chains are not national systems operating in parallel. They are integrated networks.

The UK’s food security benefits when France and the wider EU are thriving. French resilience benefits when UK production and supply are stable.

SPS agreement benefits

This brings me to the agreement we are working towards with the EU.

The SPS agreement is designed to restore the Channel corridor to its full potential.

Exports of British farm products to the EU have dropped by a fifth in the five years since Brexit. And I heard in a roundtable this afternoon with French producers that they have had similar challenges exporting to the UK.

That’s not good for farmers and consumers on both sides of the channel.

This agreement will change that.

It will make trade faster, easier, and cheaper.

Businesses large and small will benefit from less time and money spent on complex paperwork at the border.

Consumers will have greater access to the high-quality products they value.

The agreement will mean over €300 million euros worth of cheese entering the UK from France would no longer need to be checked at the border and can reach customers more quickly.

It also means that over €500 million euros worth of UK fish arriving in France each year can be sold faster and more reliably.

Frictionless trade, efficient borders, open supply chains – these directly support farmer incomes, consumer prices, and shared resilience.

The mutual benefits are significant.

They tie the UK and EU together on food security and improve movement and reliability on both sides of the Channel.

Shared high standards

There is sometimes a temptation, when discussing trade agreements, to suggest that standards must be traded off against supply.

My government rejects that view.

The UK and EU are natural allies in upholding high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection – and in championing these principles internationally, protecting the integrity of our food systems while leading the global transition to sustainable agriculture.

High standards are not a barrier to trade. They are what makes trade valuable. They are what consumers trust. And they are what will distinguish European agriculture in an increasingly uncertain world.

Sustainable farming and food security

The climate crisis means we cannot secure our food systems simply by producing more. We must produce food differently.

Sustainable farming is not a constraint on food security – it is the foundation of it. Soil health, water management, biodiversity, reduced emissions – these are not luxuries. They are the conditions on which productive agriculture depends.

Farmers who protect and restore their land are not just producing food. They are safeguarding the capacity to produce food for generations to come.

As G7 and G20 members, the UK and France have both the platform and the obligation to drive global action on climate – in our food systems but also in energy, trade, and the protection of natural ecosystems worldwide.

Last week I addressed scientists and policymakers gathered in Manchester for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

At that gathering, I delivered remarks on behalf of His Majesty the King, who spoke of nature as “the ultimate foundation of our societies and, critically, our economy” – and of the urgent need to reverse biodiversity loss.

His Majesty is right. Together we will demonstrate that protecting and restoring nature isn’t just an environmental necessity, it is essential for our security, our economy, and our future.

The King also highlighted the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, jointly established by the UK and French governments, as a model for how nature finance can channel investment towards nature across the world.

That partnership – practical, innovative, and rooted in shared values – extends to the work ahead.

And tomorrow I look forward to meeting Environment Minister Monique Barbut to discuss how we can work together through France’s G7 presidency this year and beyond – and demonstrate what multilateralism can deliver.

Today has been a reminder of why these partnerships matter – not just in policy documents, but in practice.

The conversations I’ve had with my French colleagues and counterparts, have reinforced my belief that the UK and France are ready to write the next chapter together.

Because the challenges we face – climate change, geopolitical instability, pressures on our food systems – are not challenges any country can meet in splendid isolation.

They demand cooperation between trusted partners who share not just interests, but values.

That is what the UK and France have built together.

Not a relationship of convenience, but one grounded in shared history, mutual respect, and a common vision for the future.

In the months ahead, as we work to finalise the SPS agreement and deepen our cooperation, I am confident we will demonstrate what this partnership can achieve – not just for our two countries, but as a model for how neighbours can work together in an uncertain world.

And in the spirit of partnership, I should warn you: the sparkling wine you have been drinking is produced by the finest English vineyards! But don’t worry – le vin rouge est francais!

The entente may be tested, but I trust it will remain cordiale.

But in all seriousness, I hope you’ll join me in toasting the friendship between our nations – past, present, and future.

À notre amitié – d’hier, d’aujourd’hui et de demain.

Merci.

The speech made by Emma Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 January 2026.

Good morning,

It’s a real pleasure to be here at my first Oxford Farming Conference.

This conference has a remarkable history – 90 years of new ideas being tested, challenges being confronted, and the future of British farming being shaped.

Farmers are the custodians of 70% of England’s land and provide 65% of the food we eat.

You are at the heart of our national life – for what you produce, the communities you sustain, and the landscapes and heritage you protect.

I live in a rural area and I represent a rural constituency with 89 farms. So I came to this role with an understanding of the challenges you face – and the opportunities ahead.

One of my first conversations as Secretary of State was with the NFU’s President, Tom Bradshaw. Since then, I’ve had frequent discussions with him and stakeholders from across the sector – hearing about your concerns, your frustrations, and your ambitions.

And every one of those conversations has deepened my respect for what you do.

For your resilience in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather and volatile markets.

For your innovation in finding new ways to farm productively and sustainably in a changing climate.

And for your determination to build businesses you can pass on to the next generation.

Speaking of your determination, I also want to take this opportunity to thank farmers who have been out clearing roads and helping to protect their local communities in the recent snow.

You step up when your communities need you and you are the heart of rural Britain.

Today I’m going to cover a lot of ground, but there are 3 commitments that run throughout my speech.

First, that this government is serious about partnership with your sector.

Second, that we’re committed to giving you clarity and stability.

Third, that we’re backing you to grow with confidence and resilience.

Let me start with the announcement we made just before Christmas.

Since starting this role in September, I’ve listened to farmers and stakeholders about your concerns on proposed changes to inheritance tax.

You told me the threshold was too low. You told me it would hit small family farms – the very farms we want to protect.

Farms that have been in families for generations. Farms you understandably want to pass on to your children.

We have listened and we are making changes – increasing the inheritance tax threshold for Agricultural and Business Property Relief from £1 million to £2.5 million pounds.

That means couples can pass on up to £5 million pounds without paying inheritance tax on their assets. That’s on top of the existing allowances such as the nil-rate band.

Around 85% of estates claiming APR, including those also claiming BPR, will pay no more inheritance tax.

Good governments listen. And when they hear real concerns, they act.

That’s exactly what we’ve done and now we can move forward together.

That commitment to partnership is why we asked Baroness Minette Batters to lead an independent review into farming profitability.

We are working through all of her recommendations and we will set out a more detailed response in our 25 year Farming Roadmap, built with you, later this year.

However, we have issued our initial, high-level response.

She underlined the need for government to work in close partnership with the agriculture and food industry.

I completely agree.

So we will set up a Farming and Food Partnership Board to bring together the whole agri-food system – farmers, food processors, retailers and finance.

Because food security isn’t just about what happens on the farm. It’s about the whole chain – from farm to fork.

I will chair this new Board with my excellent colleague, the Farming Minister, Angela Eagle, as my deputy.

Farmers will have a seat at the table when policy is developed. And it is your voice that will shape what government does.

It also means that government can ask things of you – and of the wider food system.

When we open new export markets, we need the industry ready to seize them.

When consumers want more British produce, we need retailers committed to stocking it.

When there’s an opportunity to grow, we need the whole system pulling in the same direction.

That’s what partnership means. Not just listening but acting together.

And it won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach.

Different parts of our food system face different challenges and opportunities.

We will develop sector plans – initially with horticulture and then with poultry. This will be followed by other sectors – where there’s real scope to grow more of our own food.

Because when British farming thrives, consumers benefit – with affordable, high-quality food on their tables.

Alongside creating the partnership board and sector plans, we have also announced planning reform to unlock food and farming infrastructure.

Stepping up action on supply chain fairness.

Bringing together farmers and financial institutions to tackle barriers to private investment.

And dedicated trade missions to showcase British food and drink overseas.

However, it’s not just the relationship between government and farmers that matters – it’s farmers’ relationships with one another.

The Batters review highlights that collaboration between farmers and indeed with experts will be key to closing the productivity gap and improving farm profitability.

So today I’m pleased to announce our new Farmer Collaboration Fund of £30 million pounds, over 3 years.

We want to make it easier for farmers to share knowledge with each other. To make best practice common practice.

Across the country, farmers are already coming together – sharing that best practice, managing rivers that cross boundaries, and accessing private investment that would otherwise be out of reach.

We want to support these existing networks and help get new ones off the ground.

Our vision is to help farmers improve their productivity and profitability; and to collaborate on delivering positive environmental change together.

After all, the best ideas in farming don’t come from Whitehall. They come from farmers. You know your industry better than anyone else.

There’s no such thing as a typical farm.

A dairy farm faces different challenges to a horticultural business. A hill farmer in Cumbria operates differently to an arable farmer in East Anglia.

Our approach must recognise this diversity.

And nowhere is that more important than in our uplands.

They provide over 70% of our drinking water, support rural livelihoods and are home to precious wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

And they produce food in some of the most challenging conditions anywhere in the country.

For too long, upland communities have faced a perfect storm. Economic fragility. Social isolation. Environmental pressures.

We want to change that.

Over the last year, we’ve started working with social entrepreneur Dr Hilary Cottam on a new approach.

An approach where we get out on the ground and talk directly to upland communities.

So today, I’m announcing that Dr Cottam and Defra will start a long-term partnership with communities in Dartmoor, then Cumbria.

The overall vision is to develop a place-based approach for what these communities need; co-designing solutions to specific problems.

By developing a common understanding of how land can be best used for food production and the public good.

It’s vital we build governance that reflects the local challenges and opportunities of these areas.

Together we will look at pooling public, private and third sector resources. Laying the foundations for new income streams. And creating the skills and networks that let communities lead their own transformation.

That’s the most important thing here, that communities lead change from the ground up.

During our time with upland communities, we also heard how much farmers value our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.

Today I’m pleased to announce we’re extending the programme for another three years – with £30 million pounds in funding next year.

The programme has partnership at its core. It brings farmers, protected landscape organisations and communities together to deliver change at a scale no single holding could achieve alone.

This extension means more farmers can deliver for wildlife, climate and their communities in England’s National Parks and National Landscapes.

Productive farms at the heart of thriving rural areas.

And that partnership approach continues with the new SFI offer launching this year.

You’ve told me, loud and clear, that you need clarity, stability and predictability.

I have a background in business. So I know how important margins, risk, and long-term investment are to you. Running a farm means balancing immediate pressures with decisions that will play out over decades.

To make those decisions, you need to know where you stand.

Protecting the environmental foundations of farming isn’t separate from profitability. It’s essential to it.

Because without healthy land, there is no food. And without profitable farms, there are no farmers to produce it.

Healthy soil. Clean water. Thriving pollinators. These aren’t nice to haves. They’re business fundamentals, environmental necessities and the foundations of our food security.

And with more than 50,000 farm businesses already in environmental land management schemes, many of you clearly agree.

But I’ve heard your frustrations. The SFI scheme became too complex. The unexpected closure last year damaged trust and confidence. And too much of the available funding was being absorbed by bigger farms.

So we’re making three changes to fix that.

First: we’re making it simpler and more focused.

90% of spending currently goes on fewer than 40 of the 102 actions available.

So we’re streamlining it. Fewer actions. Less complexity. Easier to apply.

You’ll still have plenty of choice – but this government recognises SFI must work alongside food production not displace it.

So we will limit how much land can be put into certain actions and review payment rates for others.

These changes will make funding go further, allowing more people to benefit from agreements.

Second: we’re improving fairness and accessibility.

Right now, a quarter of the money goes to just 4% of farms.

How can that be fair?

We want to see farmers helping nature thrive everywhere, not just in a few places.

So, we’re considering ways to address this such as an agreement value cap.

This will help us meet our ambitious Environmental Improvement Plan target to double the number of farms delivering for wildlife.

I’ve heard you say that you need planning certainty.

I know many of you will have Environmental Land Management agreements expiring later this year.

So I can confirm today, that we will open two SFI application windows this year.

An initial window from June for small farms, and also those without existing Environmental Land Management agreements.

Then a further window from September for all farms.

Third: we’re going to provide certainty and transparency.

From day one, I’ve heard loud and clear how important it is for you to plan for the future.

I recognise that mistakes were made in the past, and that’s why I acted quickly – extending Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements and opening applications for the new and improved Higher-Tier offer.

I am determined to provide you with that same stability going forward.

So we will publish full scheme details before the first window opens and set clear budgets for each window – just like with the Capital Grants offer last year.

There will be no more sudden unexpected closures.

We’ll give you regular updates so you know when a window is close to being fully subscribed.

Together, we will work with you to get the detail of these three changes right to deliver an SFI that is simpler, fairer, and more stable.

An SFI shaped with you, that works for you.

Once these changes are in place, the main design of SFI will be stabilised for the rest of this Parliament. So you know what to expect in the years to come.

Because growth in farming depends upon solid environmental foundations.

And British farming is a key growth sector – one we are backing for the long term.

I’ve met farmers who want to build. Farmers who want to export. Farmers who want to invest in new technology.

Too often, you’ve been held back by bureaucracy. Our government is changing that.

I’ve heard from many of you that the planning system has stopped you building the vital infrastructure you need.

That’s why last month, we launched a consultation on planning changes to make it easier to build on-farm reservoirs, greenhouses, polytunnels, and farm shops – so you are free to diversify, adapt and grow.

Planning should enable ambition, not stifle it.

But your ambitions don’t stop at the farm gate. Many of you want to reach new customers – not just here, but abroad.

We’re opening doors to new markets by promoting British agriculture in trade deals with India, the US and Korea.

Our deal with the EU on food standards will slash red tape and costs, improving access to the EU market.

And our network of global agri-food attachés has unlocked export deals worth over £125 million pounds in the last year alone.

We’re also backing the technology that will define the next generation of British farming – precision agriculture, new breeding techniques, and smarter use of data.

And as this year’s OFC report rightly states, “farming has always evolved” and your “ability to innovate, adapt and be resilient remains your greatest asset”.

And we will support you with that resilience.

You know better than anyone how quickly extreme weather and disease can overturn months of work.

That’s why we’re investing a record £10.5 billion pounds in flood defences and transforming our animal disease prevention capability through a new National Biosecurity Centre.

The growth opportunities for British farming are significant. And we are backing you to seize them.

So let me finish where I began.

Partnership. We will work with you, not impose on you. Through our new Farming and Food Partnership Board. Through peer-to-peer networks. Through community-led change. And through engagement on the detailed changes to SFI.

Clarity and stability. You will have the certainty you need to plan. Clear budgets. Clear timelines. And a clear Farming Roadmap for the future.

Growth built on strong foundations. Trade deals that open new markets. Planning reforms that cut through barriers. Investment that backs your ambition.

And most importantly, profitable farming and a thriving environment – not as a trade-off, but as two sides of the same coin.

These are my commitments to you.

The foundation for the bright future we are building together.

That’s what modern British agriculture looks like.

Productive. Profitable. Sustainable.

Thank you.

The statement made by Emma Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 January 2026.

We are a nation of animal lovers. People across the country care deeply for animals, and the UK has a proud history of being pioneers when it comes to ensuring the very best for them. This Government are committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals for the long term, and we are changing how we will deliver the improvements needed to achieve the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation.

On 22 December, the Government published our new animal welfare strategy. This strategy sets out the UK Government’s priorities for England, focusing on the changes and improvements we aim to achieve by 2030.

The strategy is a comprehensive package of reforms that will improve the lives of millions of animals across the UK at home, on farm and in the wild.

We set out how we will deliver our manifesto pledges to ban trail hunting and the use of snare traps, and to end puppy farming and puppy smuggling. We are giving farm animals greater freedom and dignity and protecting our wildlife.

By improving animal welfare standards, we are supporting healthier, more productive livestock that delivers better outcomes for farmers, farm profitability, food security and the high welfare standards that British consumers expect.

The animal welfare strategy builds on this Government’s proven track record in delivering reforms for animals. This includes introducing new world-leading standards for zoos earlier this year and supporting the passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025.

In November last year, we published a strategy on replacing animals in science, which set out how we would partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.

Rather than piecemeal legislation, we will take a more strategic approach—one that targets intervention where it is most needed. This means tighter regulation where standards are weakest, effective enforcement, and working with the sector to provide animal keepers and owners with additional support where they need it.

This animal welfare strategy has been developed in conjunction with key stakeholders including representatives of the companion, wild companion, wild animal, and farming sectors along with non-governmental organisations, and those involved in enforcement. We have held roundtable discussions on priorities while working to understand the underlying issues that lead to poor welfare. We also received input from other interested parties.

The Government recognise that each sector and species of animal has its own needs and challenges that must be considered to ensure good welfare. As such, different approaches are required, balancing priorities, interventions, legislation and roles for different organisations.

Key commitments in the strategy include:

We are ending puppy farming by consulting on reforming dog breeding practices to improve health and welfare and move away from practices that lead to poor welfare and unwell animals.

We will consider the introduction of new licences for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure rescues have the right checks in place.

We are promoting responsible dog ownership to protect public safety, and are looking forward to seeing the recommendations from the responsible dog ownership taskforce in due course.

We will consult on a ban on the use of electric shock collars due to the possible harm these devices cause to our pets.

As set out in our manifesto, we will ban trail hunting and will consult shortly on how to deliver this ban.

We will end the use of snare traps because they cause suffering to animals and can catch animals that they were not meant to, including pets and protected wildlife.

We will consider how to introduce a close season for hares which should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, meaning that fewer young hares are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation.

We will consult on moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs so that animals can express their normal behaviours.

We will improve welfare for pigs at the time of killing by phasing out the use of CO2 gas stunning for pigs, which causes pain and distress, subject to a consultation.

We will introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish.

We will work with industry to promote the use of slow growing meat chicken breeds.

We will form a fur working group of both industry experts and stakeholders who support restrictions on the trade in fur to help us explore options for addressing concerns in this area.

We will begin by launching two public consultations in January, on the use of cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers, and on lamb castration and tail docking, as the first step toward advancing these ambitious animal welfare reforms.

Our vision is simple: we want as many animals as possible to have the highest welfare standards at every stage of their life. Together with industry, non-governmental organisations and individuals, this Government will deliver the most ambitious reforms for animal welfare in a generation, creating a legacy we can all be proud of.