Farmers and growers are working hard to protect and enhance the environment and biodiversity, according to a new report by Natural England.

The Natural England review, Agri-environment schemes (AES) in England 2009, looks at how successful the schemes have been since they were first launched in 1987 and what needs to be done to enhance future schemes to increase the scale of improvements that they currently deliver.

As part of this work the review refers to the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, which was launched last week, as key to replacing the environmental benefits from set aside, abolished by DEFRA in 2008.

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall said: “This report provides a comprehensive record of what agri-environment schemes have achieved and we are pleased that it recognises the significant contribution that farmers and growers have made to the maintenance and enhancement of the environment in the past 22 years.

“It is encouraging to see the large number and range of tangible benefits that have been, and continue to be, delivered by these schemes, especially since options such as Entry Level Schemes and Higher Level Schemes are relatively new, having started in 2005. However, to keep up this momentum and enthusiasm on the ground, it is essential that AES schemes remain attractive to farmers. We have many challenges ahead for us all, including climate change and market volatility.”

The NFU wants to see a future for AES that sees the schemes enter a period of consolidation and stability, within the schemes, rather than any radical shake-up, and one that includes the removal of bureaucratic hurdles to participation. The NFU also wants to see a future where AES reflect the true value of the public benefits they provide, by ensuring payments are sufficiently responsive and flexible to remain attractive.

Kendall added: “We are working with industry partners to deliver the Campaign for the Farmed Environment and AES are an essential part of that. Therefore, we need to see schemes remain simple but effective. We need to work with farmers and growers to enable them to produce more food while impacting less on the environment.

“While we agree with the report that the range of options taken up needs to be more balanced, it is important to recognise that choices are often limited by the constraints of the landscape, its features and the farming system itself.”

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