More than 10% of England’s farmland will be repurposed to help achieve net zero and protect wildlife by 2050, The Telegraph reports.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed will launch a consultation on balancing food production with environmental goals. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates that 9% of farmland will be removed from food production, with another 5% seeing reduced output and 4% integrating trees. Reed insists changes won’t be forced on landowners, but concerns remain among farmers.
The government plans to expand woodlands by 265,000 hectares (654,829 acres), install renewable energy projects, and protect 30% of land for nature to meet its climate targets.
