10 April 2025

♻️ Ecolabels are ‘not fit for purpose’ and lack of standardisation across schemes means there is extensive potential to mislead consumers

A first-of-its kind review of ecolabels has found that a third of the schemes are based on little to no scientifically-recognised methods, while overall all current certifications were found to be ‘not fit for purpose’. The report, commissioned by CLEAR, a consortium of 40 businesses and NGOs, reviewed 10 schemes currently operating or intending to operate in the UK, and representing two main types of ecolabels: environmental impact rating and farm assurance. Researchers found the eco-rating schemes had an over-reliance on modelled rather than actual data, while farm assurance schemes were based on adoption of method instead of verified outcome. Read the final report by CLEAR, and this LinkedIn post with reflections by AFN policy champion, Ali Morpeth.

🧑‍🌾 Farm succession plans must reflect real-world goals, nature-based solutions need clearer frameworks, and land use changes pose financial and advisory challenges

Those are some of the headlines from a recent webinar on opportunities and requirements for net zero at farm level. A presentation from social scientist and AFN Network+ member, Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland, explored how to work with triggers and family cycles for transformative change on farms; AFN policy champion and rural strategic advisor Emily Norton outlined ideas around environmental accountability; while chartered surveyor and agricultural valuer Nick Millard discussed the impact of inheritance tax changes on plans for net zero. Watch the webinar, organised by the LUNZ Hub Enabling Transition To Net Zero Topic Advisory Group.

🍽️ New Local Food Plan renews strategic direction and offers rich source of recommendations on policy, infrastructure, marketing and campaigns

A new farmer-led Local Food Plan to expand and diversify the local food sector has set out a list of strategic aims, including securing local and national government support. Coordinated by sustainable food and farming alliance, Sustain, the report is a culmination of two years’ consultation with food supply chain stakeholders working at local, nations and UK-wide scales. The seven-point action plan to step up policy and investment in local food ranges from public sector procurement to the importance of food partnerships. Read the plan and digest the LinkedIn post from food systems consultant and AFN Network+ Year 2 Champion, Charlotte Wheeler.

🐮 The case for transition to regenerative dairy in the UK

A year-long project by NatWest and WWF-UK has demonstrated that regenerative dairy farms can be more profitable and resilient to price shocks and extreme weather events, compared to intensive dairy businesses. The report, available to download from the WWF-UK website, includes case studies of five farmer transitions to nature-friendly dairy farming, and accompanying documentary films. Insights from sector engagement in England and Wales explore the financial case for regenerative dairy, while economic modelling shows dairy farms are more profitable and resilient at the end of the, albeit long, transition to regenerative practices. Finally, a practical guide for farming consultants and finance practitioners details government and market support available.

🚛 Diverse group plans for future of food in the Lincolnshire Fens

A vision for the future of food in the Lincolnshire Fens has been co-designed by a diverse group of south Lincolnshire food system stakeholders, and includes a summary of the challenges faced in the area and key recommendations. The low-lying region faces specific challenges with flooding and transportation, as well as erosion of fertile silt and peat soils due to years of intensive farming. Coordinators Julien Etienne and Laura Stratford have summarised the journey to this collaborative strategy in a video, which you can watch here.

🦠 Artificial intelligence, methane, carbon sequestration and antimicrobial resistance are some of the areas that farmers would like researchers to focus on

That’s according to a new report by the NFU, Innovate UK and the Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture (CEIA). The report, which draws on conversations with almost 100 farmers and growers during a series of workshops, shows that, while some priorities such as soil health and disease control have stayed consistent, new themes have now risen to the fore. The findings also suggested that farmers and growers would like to be more involved in ]the development, design and delivery of research, and had a particular interest in how research could be applied at farm level. Download the full report or read this LinkedIn post by co-author Tom MacMillan.

🐟 Fisheries roadmap calls for regenerative approach to end overfishing and preserve coastal livelihoods

A new roadmap from marine NGO Oceana is calling for the government to implement a properly funded strategy to end overfishing, and create a regenerative approach to fisheries management. It calls for a regenerative fishing sector similar to that emerging in UK agriculture, which would place science, fairness, resilience, transparency and respect at its core. The report, which included a literature review and interviews with 30 people from across the sector, notes that climate change is intensifying the social and environmental harms caused by overfishing. Warming seas, ocean acidification and changes in salinity are affecting marine ecosystems, with species already stressed by overfishing less resilient to these changes. The report also emphasised the social impact of overfishing, with more sustainable small-scale fishers, using smaller boats with less fuel, disadvantaged by fuel tax relief and quotas. Read the full report, complete with handy infographics.

🐑Potential for sustainability in sheep farming identified in new sector report

A report by the National Sheep Association, in conjunction with Harper Adams University School of Sustainable Food and Farming, assesses sheep farming’s sustainability and explores the trade offs when trying to meet sustainability goals. It also showcases positive sustainability case studies from diverse sheep farms ranging from the Scottish uplands to English borders, and identifies research gaps around carbon footprints and productivity gains in sheep. It also highlights and explores aspects of sustainability that are particularly relevant for sheep farming, including grassland management, soil health and biodiversity, feed and integration into arable farming systems. Read the full report.

News in brief

A secret group of food industry insiders have released a memo warning the sector is not prepared for major shocks or a commodity crisis. In a similar vein to recent AFN+ webinar speaker, Professor Tim Lang, the group has urged more work to ensure food system resilience and preparedness for a disaster. Read more.

The radical shake up of global trade via new US tariffs is a moving picture with the full impact yet to be fully understood. In the short-term, US consumers have been stockpiling food and other goods from the EU, including coffee, rice and spices. Here’s the full story.

And if you’re struggling to keep up with Trump’s policy changes (who isn’t?!), here’s a handy ‘food policy tracker’ courtesy of US sustainable food magazine, Civil Eats.

European think tank IDDRI has begun a major reimagining of a new social contract fit for the ecological and political crises of today. Here’s where they’ve got to.

This Digest was written by freelance writer, Nina Pullman, and collated and edited by AFN Knowledge Exchange Fellow, Jez Fredenburgh.