The Source

Defra expect to open the first application window (“Window 1”) from 30 June 2026 for 2 groups: small farms and farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement.  Before we do this, we will invite a small number of farmers who are eligible for Window 1 to apply from around 18 June. This is to test and refine the application service in a controlled way, to make sure it’s working as expected before full rollout. 

As a chartered town and urban planner with a focus on high-quality tourism schemes, I've long championed the principles of sustainable development. Minimizing the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities has been paramount. However, the exciting new field of regenerative tourism pushes the boundaries beyond mere "do no harm," offering a transformative approach that actively improves the places we visit.

“At the 2026 One Nucleus BioBeat event, I was asked to bring an agritech perspective into a biotech room on the topic of “The Medici Effect” — how breakthroughs emerge at the intersection of disciplines.” Kate Brunswick, AgriTechE

Climate change is already reshaping UK farming and the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is calling for change. To support whole-business resilience, we have developed new climate resilience on‑farm action planners to help farmers move from awareness to practical, proportionate action. Alice Sin, AHDB’s Environmental Specialist, explains more.

Farming is one of the most hazardous industries because it involves heavy machinery, animals, chemicals, uneven ground, and long working hours. HSE statistics for 2024/25 show there were 23 worker fatalities, a rate 22 times higher than the all-industry average. Additionally, 4 members of the public, including 2 children were also killed on farm. The numbers for 2025/26, are worse: they show a significant increase with 33 deaths reported so far, and 6 since the beginning of April. Having strong health and safety practices helps prevent accidents, injury, illness, and financial loss.

The UK food system is facing growing pressure from climate change, with hotter summers, wetter winters and more frequent extreme weather already affecting agricultural production, supply chains and food prices.

Through our own experience at Nethergill Farm and during some study work on farms in the north of England, in 2017, there emerged anecdotal evidence that as some farms downsized to withdraw from farming their losses reduced noticeably. Other farms which had downsized more modestly to adjust to the prevailing economy also reported an improvement in profitability…

Can they support a thriving, nature positive community?

Soil obtained from across nine UK locations was used to cultivate six key arable crops (wheat, barley, oats, fava beans, oilseed rape, and sugar beet). Researchers found that although the local soil environment selected which kinds of bacteria were present, the crop species determined the beneficial microbial functions of those bacteria. The findings have significant implications for the design of microbial inoculants and microbiome-assisted breeding strategies for sustainable agriculture.

A total of £225 million will be invested through Capital Grants this year to help farmers and land managers carry out environmental improvements across England. 

“We found that subtle differences in a variety of characteristics of farm systems were associated with differences in farmers’ perceptions of the difficulty of changing practices, and with subsequent adoption.”

Whilst somewhat overshadowed by continued speculation over the future of the Prime Minister, the King’s Speech on the 13th May set out a wide range of legislation that the Government proposes to introduce. Almost 40 Bills were listed ranging from nuclear power to the regulation of taxis.