Calls for more support to be given to farmers who boost biodiversity on their lands have been made by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. The calls follow the results of a survey commissioned by the charity, which revealed over four fifths of British adults believe that farmers have a responsibility to look after the landscape and wildlife for future generations.

84 per cent of respondents said they felt farming carries environmental obligations, with 78 per cent of those questioned saying they felt farmers should receive more support to carry out environmentally sustainable farming practices. image expired

A parade of studies from wildlife charities have revealed biodiversity on farms is falling across Europe; numbers of birds, butterflies and mammals such as dormice and hedgehogs have declined in recent years as their habitats are lost to more intensive agricultural practices.

CPRE this week set out its vision for the future of agriculture; the charity's CPRE Farming Vision outlines the changes to farming practices and agricultural policy CPRE would like to see implemented by 2026. These include more community-based horticultural enterprises, more farms generating renewable energy and better water and soil management.

The CPRE report also suggests farmers should plant wild flowers on the margins of fields, provide seeds for birds in the winter and diversify the range of crops grown on farms, including fruits and vegetables, rather than focus on single crops.

However, farming industry voices have said the view ignores the realities of farming in a market system. Industry commentators have pointed out that many people are unwilling or unable to pay more to ensure their food is free range or locally sourced, as the report envisions. The NFU said it supports technological solutions, such as increased use of computers to target spraying, which would reduce the overall amount of chemicals used, and increase irrigation efficiency through better practice and seed varieties.

NFU president Peter Kendall recommended using technology to scale up production, claiming this is more important than environmental protection. Nevertheless, he expressed the hope that production may be increased in ways which also deliver environmental protection; Mr Kendall sanguinely said, “If our biodiversity is the same in 30 years time then that is a fair achievement but if our food production is the same that is a problem.”

Production and protection can go hand in hand

However, government scientist Bob Watson told the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday that increased production and environmental protection need not be a question of 'either/ or'. Already in the UK farms, such as those operated in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire by the RSPB are benefiting wildlife and increasing biodiversity whilst maintaining production.image expired

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