NFFN Cymru demands long-term SFS funding
© Tim Scrivener Welsh politicians are being urged to commit to an ambitious long-term budget for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) to support nature-friendly agriculture, ahead of the May Senedd election.
The call comes from the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) Cymru, which launched its own election manifesto this week (see “NFFN’s five key election asks”).
The organisation is pressing parties to ensure the scheme benefits both nature and food production.
See also: Wales deputy first minister concerned SFS could be undone
NFFN Cymru manager Rhys Evans said Welsh landscapes, shaped by traditional farming over generations, faced unprecedented threats from extreme weather, soil degradation, biodiversity loss and volatile markets.
“Without a widespread shift to regenerative, nature-friendly systems, farming will continue to struggle,” Mr Evans said. “Transitioning to these systems can restore nature, revitalise the countryside and create a strong, resilient food system for the future.”
He added that nature-friendly farming could strengthen farm businesses, reducing reliance on costly chemicals, improving soil health and supporting local food production.
Food security
Some farmers welcomed the focus on nature but stressed that food production must remain central.
Montgomeryshire sheep farmer Wyn Williams said a fully ring-fenced agricultural budget was essential to maintain food security and support Wales’ processing sector.
“Farmers are happy to support nature, but this must run alongside food production to ensure stability in the industry,” he said.
Beef and sheep farmer Rhys Parry, who farms near Machynlleth, Powys, supported NFFN Cymru’s call for long-term SFS funding but warned that the scheme’s structure was crucial.
He expressed concern that large environmental organisations might dominate collaborative funding tiers without producing food, while trade policies could have a greater impact on agricultural sustainability.
NFFN’s five key election asks
- Commit at least £594m a year over next decade to fund nature-friendly farming at the heart of Wales’s climate and nature strategy
- Use the SFS to drive a large-scale shift to nature-friendly farming, with strong funding for the Optional and Collaborative tiers
- Work with farmers to prevent environmental harm, rewarding environmental gains and embedding “polluter pays” in law
- Invest in high-quality advice and farmer-led learning to support the transition to nature-friendly farming
- Create a national food strategy for Wales that ensures fair prices from the private sector and easier public procurement of healthy, high-quality food.
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