Phasing out Common Agricultural Payments (CAP) as a result of Brexit means a move away from a complex and prescriptive scheme, said James Grischeff, Defra principle advisor - Environmental Land Management system (ELMs), speaking at Energy and Rural Business Show on 7^th February.

“The ELMs will be more collaborative and outcome-driven,” explained James. “It’s about deploying measures that deliver outcomes using the land managers skills in problem solving and appropriate technical advice and guidance with much mess prescriptiveness.”

Farmers wanting to prepare for the phasing out of CAP payments were encouraged to think about some themes which will run through the new ELMs, including its voluntary nature and valuation methods focussed on protecting our ‘natural capital’ and benefitting our society, as well as ‘payments for outcomes’, meaning the more you do, the more you get.

In future, farmers and land managers will be encouraged to understand their own ‘environmental potential’ and will be offered a choice how to achieve outcomes in a more flexible model. 

The Defra ‘vision’ was clearly outlined as ‘rewarding public goods with public money; building a thriving; self-reliant and resilient farming sector; nurturing a trusting and productive relationship between farmers and Government and ensuring world class animal welfare standards.’

James informed that the ELMs timeline roll out dates are:

•   2019 – 21 – develop a design and test new ideas
•   2021 – 24 – large scale pilot
•   2025 – 2028 – ELM full roll out

When queried on the phasing out of the CAP after 2021, James proposed that the Government should maintain a similar level of support which will slowly transition into the ELMs.

The Energy and Rural Business Show took place on February 6 and 7 2019. It’s pitted as the event for farms of the future and hosted hundreds of expert speakers and exhibitors offering advice on everything from maximising existing and new renewable energy projects and practical and specific rural diversification advice, to the latest innovations and policy advances in low emission vehicles and energy storage. Also at the event this year, the new BBC Top Gear presenters, Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, filmed part of their new series, by unveiling three electric cars and engaging with the public.

The next Energy and Rural Business Show will take place in February 2020.