New Farming Board To Back Growth For Growers Following Profitability Review
- gillmcshane
- 48 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The government has launched a new board, including representatives from the horticulture and fresh produce sectors, that aims to put growers at the heart of UK food policy in an initial response to 57 report recommendations laid out by ex-NFU president Baroness Minette Batters.
With UK businesses struggling and domestic food security hanging in the balance, the Farming and Food Partnership Board aims to drive growth, productivity, and profitability through greater supply chain collaboration.
It includes an initial emphasis on the horticulture and poultry sectors where there is significant potential to increase homegrown production, Defra said in a press release.
The board will be chaired by Defra Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, with Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle as deputy chair.
Defra said the board would bring together senior leaders from farming, food production, retail, finance, and government who will work together to boost growth and investment for farming businesses.
Key Details
Objective: To strengthen food production at home, improve supply chain fairness, and deliver a more commercial, outcomes-focused approach to policy development.
Membership: A partnership-led approach will bring together senior leaders from farming, food production, retail, finance, and government.
Focus Areas: The board will work to remove barriers to investment, improve supply chain operations, and unlock tailored growth opportunities for specific sectors including horticulture.
Emphasis: It will have a clear emphasis on supporting agricultural productivity, homegrown British produce, and strengthening food security.
Immediate Actions
Alongside the launch of the Farming and Food Board, ministers have set out immediate actions to back businesses, 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 such as on-farm reservoirs, greenhouses, polytunnels and farm shops, making it easier for farmers to invest and expand.
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.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said Baroness Batters’ Farming Profitability 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,” she confirmed. “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.”
Industry Reaction
The industry, including groups like the Lea Valley Growers Association and the NFU, has welcomed the focus on horticulture.
“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," said NFU President Tom Bradshaw.
“A commitment to continue working on supply chain fairness is a top priority for all farming sectors, while delivering planning reforms will help underpin growth for the industry. Refocused efforts on growing our exports is also welcome and vital to adding value for domestic producers.”
Farming Profitability Review
Commissioned in April, Batters' independent Farming Profitability Review sets out 57 short-, medium- and long-term recommendations across 155 pages.
It aims to redefine how government works with the farming sector and ways to improve long-term profitability, resilience, and food security.
The NFU said Batters' Farming Profitability Review is right to recognise that reform is needed considering the industry continues to face challenges including: geopolitical uncertainty, trade deals, uncertainty around the future of environmental schemes, extreme weather events, continued price volatility, and the family farm tax.
“This is about enhancing the financial resilience and long-term sustainability of British farming – the bedrock of the nation’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, worth £153 billion to the economy and an industry that supports more than four million jobs,” Bradshaw explained.
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.