England's Food Systems are Failing: What Needs to Happen?

The Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) issues a dire warning, stating that England's current food system is on a trajectory of failure without significant governmental changes. In their recent report, "Roadmap for financing a regenerative agricultural transition in England," the WWF advocates for a fundamental shift in the financing of food production, urging the UK government to champion regenerative farming.

The report underscores the necessity for a transformation in how both public and private sectors fund food and farming, emphasizing a pivotal move toward nature-friendly or regenerative approaches. The WWF identifies the interconnected challenges of climate change, nature loss, and the food system as a "triple challenge" demanding immediate attention over the next decade.

To facilitate this transition, the WWF highlights the importance of collaborative efforts across the food value chain, ensuring a fair distribution of costs and risks associated with nature-friendly farming practices. Government intervention is deemed crucial to securing this collective action.

The report outlines key areas for the UK government to address, including the harmonization of data for farmers to establish consistent standards and the regulation of emerging high-integrity carbon and nature markets for enhanced transparency. Additionally, the WWF calls for new legislation that integrates policy decisions on food, climate, and nature, positioning regenerative farming as a core solution to these intertwined challenges.

In light of unprecedented changes and uncertainties faced by farmers across the country, attributed to shifts in government payment schemes, coupled with disruptions in supply chains and price pressures related to climate change and nature loss, the report serves as a rallying cry for immediate action.

Find the report here