Farmers should fill out annual sustainability survey to get public money, says charity

The Sustainable Food Trust suggested farmers should monitor, among other things, soil organic carbon levels and microbial life; air and water quality; levels of on-farm biodiversity; energy and resource use efficiency; high-welfare management of livestock, climate change mitigation and social and cultural benefits.

In written evidence to the Welsh Government’s consultation on Environmental Principles and Governance in Wales Post-EU Exit, the group said this kind of assessment would provide a better understanding of the national situation for each public good, such as biodiversity or net carbon emissions, and allow for more targeted interventions to help meet particular goals.

The charity also suggested farmers should be encouraged to progressively increase their environmental commitments ‘since all farms can become more sustainable’.