Brexit has opened up a far reaching debate about what agricultural subsidies are for. Farmland makes up 70 per cent of the UK’s land area and its primary purpose is food production. An agricultural support scheme that does not include more sustainable food production as a source of public benefits will not lead to the environmental improvements we need.

This policy insight recommends that the new agricultural support scheme gives preference to sustainable food production, requires good environmental reporting, invests in farm-based innovation and safeguards standards in trade deals.