Yesterday, the Rural Economy Research Group – which JBP supports as Secretariat – hosted its meeting in the House of Lords for a timely debate on the Government’s Land Use Framework.
The meeting, supported by the publication of RERG’s latest report on the Framework, focused on what current land use policy means for farming, food production and the wider rural economy.
The discussion highlighted a strong consensus that farming and food production must be given greater priority within the Land Use Framework. Contributors from both academic and rural backgrounds were clear that if food security is to be treated as a national priority, this must be reflected more clearly in the framework itself, with stronger guidance and clearer targets.
The meeting also underlined the need to recognise trade-offs between competing land uses more openly and to ensure that decisions are grounded in the realities of farm business viability.
There was also a clear view amongst guests that farmers remain undervalued in public policy, not only as food producers but as vital contributors to rural communities and local resilience.
Attendees, including Parliamentarians, stressed that without a profitable farming sector, wider ambitions on nature recovery, environmental delivery and long-term resilience will be much harder to achieve.
The latest report on the Land Use Framework sets out the main risks, opportunities and gaps in the Government’s approach, and helped frame a constructive and well-supported discussion. The event provided a strong platform for RERG’s continued work to ensure rural economic priorities remain at the centre of political debate.
Link to the RERG’s Land Use Framework Report here: