How green subsidy reforms are struggling to improve 'poor and polluting' farms

Michael Holder
clock • 5 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Onward report warns payments on offer to farmers through Defra's new agricultural subsidy regime are too small and complicated to access

Too many farms in England risk remaining stuck in a cycle that leaves them "poor and polluting", unless the UK's post-Brexit subsidy regime is given a major overhaul that offers farmers higher payments...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Michael Holder
Author spotlight

Michael Holder

Editor

View profile
More from Michael Holder

Bee-killing pesticides: Defra tightens guidance on emergency use of neonicotinoids

Reform UK councils in Kent and North Northants move to ditch 2030 net zero goals

More on Policy

UK and Brazil team up to tackle environmental impact of fertilisers
Policy

UK and Brazil team up to tackle environmental impact of fertilisers

Nations announce collaborative effort to drive research and innovation into sustainable fertilisers use in order to boost supply chain resilience and food security

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 11 September 2025 • 3 min read
Marine Protected Areas: Government rejects calls for 'outright ban' on bottom trawler fishing
Policy

Marine Protected Areas: Government rejects calls for 'outright ban' on bottom trawler fishing

Defra is widening protections from destructive fishing practices in UK seas, but has confirmed it is not planning 'to introduce whole-site bans on bottom towed fishing gear in MPAs'

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 09 September 2025 • 4 min read
Hundreds of investors and business groups urge EU to 'preserve the core' of sustainability reporting rules
Policy

Hundreds of investors and business groups urge EU to 'preserve the core' of sustainability reporting rules

As many as 475 organisations raise alarm over plans in EU 'Omnibus Package' to streamline and simplify CSRD and CSDDD, which they argue are 'essential for long-term resilience'

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 05 September 2025 • 5 min read