Organic sector welcomes sustained support through SFI 2026

Organic sector representatives have expressed their relief that the revamped Sustainable Farming Incentive for 2026 maintains many of the options available in previous rounds which should encourage future conversions and growth.

The new-look Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) was revealed by Defra secretary Emma Reynolds on Tuesday (24 February) and, as expected, sees a slimming down of the total suite of options, with 31 of the previous 102 actions available now removed.

See also: Defra overhauls SFI with £100,000 cap and 71 actions

Ahead of the announcement, the Soil Association had expressed concerns that government support for organic food production could be in the firing line.

But the new package reveals that 11 of the organic options that were available in SFI 2024 have been retained, with just three dropped.

Conversion payments

Crucially, the new SFI contains five actions to encourage two-year conversion to organic farming, with annual payments ranging from £96/ha for unimproved permanent grassland, to £1,920/ha for converting to top fruit production.

Improved permanent grassland will attract an annual conversion payment of £187/ha, while rotational land will earn £298/ha.

The Soil Association has also welcomed the fact that ongoing organic land management will still be supported, with six different annual payment rates, including £41/ha for unimproved permanent grassland, and £132/ha for rotational land.

Clarity and reassurance

Soil Association policy director Brendan Costelloe said: “The new details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive provide much-needed clarity and reassurance for farmers, many of whom have had plans on hold.

“The continued support for conversion to organic and the core ongoing organic land management options will help to give further confidence to the growing numbers looking to seize the opportunities from the booming organic market.”

A Defra blog post explains that three previous organic actions are being removed for SFI 2026.

These are the £264/ha payment for overwinter stubble on organic land, the £935/t for supplementary winter bird food, and the £380/ha for under-sown cereal crop.

“We are removing OFA1, OFA3 and OFA6 because they have very low uptake, and alternatives are available,” said the blog post.

Action plan

While welcoming the continuation of conversion and management payments – designed to help compensate for the higher environmental and animal welfare costs of organic production – the Soil Association is also calling for an Organic Action Plan for England, “as Scotland has done”, to capitalise on the growing organic food market.

“This would help to catalyse public and private partnerships, increase investment in the sector, and unlock the economic and environmental opportunities that organic brings,” said Mr Costelloe.