The UK Government’s abrupt decision to halt new applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has sparked outrage across the agricultural sector, with both the Soil Association and the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) warning of severe consequences for organic producers, smaller farms, and sustainable food production.
For decades, farmers transitioning to organic farming have received financial support to help them navigate the two-year conversion process. However, the sudden freeze on the SFI—only weeks after the Government advised farmers to use the scheme for organic conversion—has left those in the process without crucial backing. New data from Soil Association Certification shows that land in conversion to organic doubled in 2024, marking the 13th consecutive year of growth in the organic market. Yet, without clear assurances from the Government, this momentum is now under serious threat.
Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning condemned the decision, stating: “This damaging move by government seriously risks the viability of the organic sector and threatens the supply of sustainable British food. It has frozen farmers out of the opportunity to meet the rising demand for organic food, which will instead continue to be met by imports. The government is disregarding what shoppers and farmers want, alongside the need to protect nature. This is a new low for sustainable food production in England, which will fall even further behind Scotland and other countries where there are targets to increase organic production.
“We are also very worried that smaller producers and family farms, particularly fruit and veg growers, have not had enough opportunity to access the scheme and that they will be most impacted by this sudden change.”
The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) has also strongly criticised the decision, arguing that farmers who are not currently signed up to an agri-environment scheme urgently need an alternative to stabilise their financial position. NFFN CEO Martin Lines called for an interim support scheme, stating: “The Government needs to act swiftly to introduce this interim support scheme. We’re not expecting a fully-fledged solution, but rather a targeted approach to help those farmers who need it most and cannot wait 18 months for support.
“Many of the problems that have led to the abrupt closure of the SFI were predictable and should have been foreseen by both ministers and civil servants. The way this closure has been handled has left thousands of farmers high and dry, with many now in a really difficult financial position. The lack of prior warning was completely unacceptable. Lessons must be learned from this.”
Both organisations have expressed concerns that the sudden withdrawal of support will severely damage trust between farmers and the Government at a time when relations are already strained. The NFFN warns that farmers need certainty to make long-term decisions about their land management and that policy changes cannot be made so suddenly without devastating consequences.
In response to the announcement, the Soil Association is calling for:
- Payments for organic conversion and maintenance to be retained.
- Farmers who started but had not yet finished their SFI applications to have those honoured.
- Priority to be given to smaller producers – who need them most.
- Payments for agroforestry, which had only just become available, to be retained.
Meanwhile, the NFFN is urging the Government to introduce an interim scheme to provide targeted assistance for farmers most in need, ensuring that those who relied on the SFI are not left without support for the next 18 months.
