The main party manifestos are not promising enough. This means the vital questions on how policies must help farmers in climate adaptation and protecting nature - crucial for food production, wildlife, and our well-being - too often get weak responses or receive too poor a debate.  

Yet there is no greater challenge. Over the next decade, as climate extremes multiply resulting in increased droughts and floods, governments must ensure a transformation to resilient farming everywhere. We need to be sure our future politicians and government get this.  

So, as voters, what should we be asking Prospective Parliamentary Candidates on our doorstep or during hustings? Are there promises we should be looking for in manifestos when it comes to farm policy?  

The Wildlife Trusts believe there are four key issues on food and farming that future politicians and political parties should be taking seriously, so why not ask one (or all!) of the following the next time your local candidate comes knocking... 

1. Do you understand the risks of continuing a food system that harms nature rather than prioritising nature-based farming that aids nature’s recovery? 

With over 70% of the UK’s land farmed in some way, how this land is managed has a big impact on wildlife. We need all party candidates to stress action on nature-based farming as a priority and recognise that our food supply depends on it. 

Food production won’t happen without healthy soils, protected and restored rivers, and thriving wildlife including pollinating insects and pest predators. More hedges and trees on and around farms are needed to support farm incomes, protect soils, hold carbon and water and provide habitats. And as all life depends on insects, pesticide use must be halved by 2030 and bans on bee-killing and human-health-harming neonicotinoids must be upheld. Regenerative farming also pays well in the end, saving farmers money on costly pesticides and chemical fertilisers, and instead using nature to fight pests and create fertile soils. 

Our future politicians need to recognise the value of restoring nature-rich areas such as wetlands, peatlands and forests and finding ways to relocate the crops, especially horticulture crops which we need to grow more of, out of lowland, carbon rich, peat soils.  

2. Are you and your party prepared to put the right money and policies in place? 

Can they promise to champion a far bigger budget for nature-based farming, healthier food, and nature’s recovery? We have a new way of supporting farmers in England under Environmental Land Management schemes (often referred to as ELMs) – but these schemes need to be more ambitious with, bigger budgets attached and work alongside better and well-enforced rules to protect soils, water and wildlife. Farm support must also deliver nature-based solutions to manage climate-related issues like flooding, drought and soil erosion.  

Not investing properly means everyone loses. The Wildlife Trusts’ 2023 research shows that the farming budget needs to increase to at least £4.4 billion each year to support a farming transition, which delivers for farmers, climate, and nature.   

3. Land use is key. Do you agree we need an effective, joined up and democratically delivered Land Use Framework and food strategy? 

We only have a finite land area in the UK – with huge competing demands on it. From recreation to food production, renewable energy to housing. A Land UseFramework should consider all these competing demands whilst taking into account local priorities, the government’s commitment to protect and restore at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 and ensure food production in the UK adapts in response to climate change. This will mean changing what we grow, where we grow it and reducing food waste, as well as shifting consumer diets to be healthier and more sustainable – making a coherent and joined up food strategy necessary.  

4. Can you promise to curb the power of food corporations, which continue to be a serious barrier to progressing a sustainable food agenda?  

Politicians need to tackle the unfair behaviour of food companies. Farmers gain an ever-smaller part of your food pound – around 10% of the total value – as the retailers, caterers and manufacturers take much more. With such small returns, it is almost impossible for farmers to have the capital and confidence to change to more sustainable practices. Do prospective politicians agree that we need a fair and just transition towards nature-friendly farming with more mixed, diverse farming and regulations to curb unfair buyers at the farmgate with low prices and unfair standards?  

Next steps

We hope that these questions help you to challenge your Prospective Parliamentary Candidates on their policies around food and farming. We would love to hear how your conversations have gone and whether you have been satisfied with the answers you’ve been given. To help record these conversations, we’ve set up a quick survey, which you can find here.  

There are also a number of other tools and resources available to guide you through this election, as well events coming up including the Restore Nature Now march on 22nd June. We hope to see you there!