England’s organic farming sector is “holding its breath” as it awaits government announcement over the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
The government is expected to announce details of the revised SFI scheme during a speech at the NFU Conference tomorrow.
The Soil Association has said the government has not yet renewed its commitment to supporting organic farming in recognition of the environmental benefits it delivers.
While organic sectors in Wales, Scotland and the EU have all received support, organic land in England has remained “largely static at around 3% for a decade” despite demand on the rise.
Prior to March’s early closure of the SFI to new entrants, the government had for provided support for farmers during the two-year conversion period to organic, and after that for ongoing management of land adhering to the strict environmental standards required.
The Soil Association said this helped farmers during the conversion period, in which they cannot sell their products with the organic logo and often have to take land out of production, and after conversion helps farmers deal with higher costs.
“The organic sector is holding its breath as it continues to wait for a renewed commitment from government,” said Soil Association policy director Brendan Costelloe. “By avoiding harmful, fossil-fuel based pesticides and fertilisers, organic farmers work with nature to deliver key benefits to society that must be recognised.
“This is essential as the care taken by organic farmers can mean they face higher costs. There is a lot of nervousness that the government will recklessly pull the rug out on this support.”
A review by the Soil Association of recent figures show that spend on organic made up just over 1% of SFI expenditure between October 2024 to October 2025.
“If the government is serious about supporting profitable, nature-friendly farming and meeting the UK’s environmental obligations, it is vital it backs organic as one of the strongest tools we have,” said Costelloe. “This is a key opportunity for England to catch up in the race to deliver a truly sustainable farming system.”
The Soil Association has also urged the government to keep its decision to remove the five-hectare restriction that stopped smaller farmers from accessing the scheme previously.
A reintroduction of it would risk excluding productive smaller scale farms, Costelloe warned adding “we must ensure these growers are not left behind”.
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