Thank you for contacting me about the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).

I can assure you that I share your concerns about the future of this scheme.

I have always fundamentally supported the principle of paying farmers for providing environmental goods and therefore I was concerned to see reports that the Government is potentially abandoning plans for ELMS.

In my view this would be a step back from its promises at a time when many farmers have already changed their plans to adjust to the new legislation. A reversal would be highly disruptive for our agricultural communities. I will therefore follow developments on this matter closely.

Farming and the environment must not be viewed as in conflict. The reality is that the climate crisis cannot be tackled without sustainable farming.

I stand behind our farmers and food producers. I am concerned the continuation of current agricultural practices is incompatible with recent international agreements to tackle climate change but I believe people in the farming sector overwhelmingly want to see farming conducted in a more sustainable way.

Therefore I am troubled by the Government’s international trade deals, which not only damage the prospects of British farmers, but also outsource the climate problems facing UK farming overseas while doing nothing to relieve the environmental pressures here.

Farming’s position at the forefront of the climate crisis means it offers a powerful tool for fighting back. The UK has become one of the world’s least biodiverse nations and, with the right support, I believe agriculture can play a critical role through conserving, protecting and enhancing our natural ecosystems. These practices can generate healthier soil, good food and greater biodiversity.

Our nature teeters on a cliff edge. We need biodiversity targets but they must be ambitious and aim for a dramatic incline in species abundance, not just a halt to the current decline.

Protecting biodiversity and restoring habitats and wildlife must be a priority.