The 25 Year Environment Plan

Caroline Drummond, LEAF Chief Executive comments "Having been at the forefront of developing and delivering more sustainable farming for over 25 years, we are pleased that the environment is at the heart of Defra's 25 Year Plan.

"What is needed now is a very clear roadmap on how these ambitions will be met to ensure that real change is achieved. LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management already addresses many of the areas outlined in the plan, including more sustainable water and soil management, landscape and nature conservation, improved energy efficiency and better education and public awareness around farming and the natural world. As Government strategies take shape as to how the aims and objectives of its 25 Year Plan will be translated into action on the ground, we will continue to share knowledge and experience gained through our LEAF Network of Demonstration Farms and Innovation Centres with Defra and the wider industry. In addition, our LEAF Open Farm Sunday and LEAF Open Farm Schools Days initiatives are already having a huge impact in closing the gap between the public, particularly those from urban areas, and agriculture and following our recent merger with FACE (Farming and Countryside Education), we are now leading a collaborative approach within the industry to bring agriculture into schools and ensure children connect with the natural world around them. Indeed, we were particularly interested to learn of the government’s new Nature Friendly Schools programme and look forward to being part of this.

"There is a lot of hard work ahead to ensure success but we look forward to continuing to work with Defra over the next 25 years and beyond to make positive change in our food and farming systems.”