Baroness Minette Batters’ independent Farming Profitability Review has called for closer collaboration between farming, industry and government, and greater clarity and certainty for farm businesses looking to grow and invest.
The long-awaited review makes 57 recommendations to improve long term profitability, productivity, resilience and investment across farming.
Defra has responded to one of its recommendations by establishing a new Farming and Food Partnership Board, launched today, to drive growth, productivity and long-term profitability across the sector.
Chaired by Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, with Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle as deputy, the Board will bring together senior leaders from farming, food production, retail, finance and government to take a ‘practical, partnership-led approach from farm to fork to strengthen our food production’.
The Board will focus on removing barriers to investment, improving how the supply chain works and unlocking growth opportunities across different parts of primary production and processing. It will have a clear emphasis on supporting agricultural productivity, homegrown British produce and strengthening food security.
It will focus on sector plans where there are clear opportunities to boost productivity, starting with horticulture and poultry, where there is significant untapped potential to increase homegrown production.
Alongside the launch of the Board, ministers said they are taking ‘immediate actions; to back farm businesses in response to the review, including:
- Unlocking food and farming infrastructure through planning reform, working with MHCLG to make food production a clearer priority in the planning system. Proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework announced this week will help speed up delivery of key infrastructure, making it easier for farmers to invest and expand, Defra said.
- Stepping up action on supply chain fairness, including continued scrutiny of unfair practices and consideration of changes to Groceries Code Adjudicator oversight.
- Tackling barriers to private finance, bringing together farmers, agri-food businesses and major financial institutions to attract investment into farm transformation and productivity
- Supporting exports and new markets, with ministers leading dedicated trade missions in 2026 to showcase British food and drink overseas.
Defra secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Baroness Batters’ Review underlines the need for government, farming and the food industry to work much more closely together. That is exactly what the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will do.
“This is about serious action to remove barriers, unlock investment and make the food system work better, so farm businesses can grow, invest and plan for the future with confidence.”
New approach
Baroness Batters thanked all those that have responded to the Farm Profitability Review and encourage everyone to read it in full.
“I’m pleased that the secretary of state recognises the need to establish a new approach to growing the British brand at home and abroad by producing, creating and selling more from our farms in a measurable way,” she said.
“With ever more extreme weather, the horrific, ongoing war in Ukraine and 69.7 million people in the UK now is the time to deliver food security as national security.”
The government response to the Farming Profitability Review will be set out through the new 25-Year Farming Roadmap, due for publication next year, providing long-term clarity on the direction of travel for the sector.
Reaction
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “This is a thorough and complex report, and we will take our time to digest the details and analyse the recommendations made by Baroness Batters to improve the profitability of Britain’s farming businesses.
“As we continue to face huge and wide-ranging challenges from geopolitical uncertainty and trade deals that threaten to undermine our marketplace, to uncertainty around the future of environmental schemes, extreme weather events, continued price volatility and the unfair family farm tax, this report is right to recognise that reform is needed.
“Changes that will drive competitiveness and profitability, which are critical elements of thriving farming businesses, are also crucial to achieving the government’s own targets for economic growth. This is about enhancing the financial resilience and long-term sustainability of British farming.”
“The creation of a new farming and food partnership board with profitability and food security at its heart will enhance collaboration and ensure the government and industry can work in partnership delivering on the issues that matter most for the sector.”
“The ball is now in Defra’s court. Ministers have to drive these priority areas forward. But alongside this, there are other immediate actions that are needed to boost British farming like providing much-needed clarity and certainty on the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and doing the right thing on the pernicious inheritance tax changes.”
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Gavin Lane said: “We welcome Minette Batters’ conclusions and urge the government to work with the industry to build profitable, self-sustaining farm businesses, otherwise food production and nature recovery will be put at even greater risk.
“Now is the time for urgent action. We need a stable policy environment, clarity on farming schemes, real planning reform and a recognition that a joined-up approach to rural affairs is desperately needed across government.”