To meet net zero and nature restoration targets by 2050, about 9% of England’s farmland must be converted into forests and wild habitats, according to a consultation launched by Environment Secretary Steve Reed.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that nearly 20% of the UK’s agricultural land will need to change use to improve ecosystems. However, Defra believes enhanced productivity on the remaining farmland could maintain current levels of UK food production.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of “adding even more burdens on farmers”.

Meanwhile, the Land Use Framework, originally suggested in the 2021 Dimbleby Review on a National Food Strategy, has been delayed multiple times, with its focus shifting over the years. The framework is intended to guide farming incentives and regulations, helping balance food security, nature recovery, infrastructure, and climate goals.

Defra argues that a comprehensive land-use strategy would minimise the loss of high-quality farmland to housing developments or energy projects. Currently, about 70% of England’s land is used for farming.

Government analysis shows that 1.6 million hectares of agricultural land will need to be repurposed by 2050 to meet legal environmental and climate targets. The proposed changes include:

• 1% of land undergoing minor modifications, such as planting herbs or other plants along field margins.
• 4% incorporating more trees while continuing food production.
• 5% repurposed for environmental benefits but still producing food.
• 9% completely removed from food production to create woodlands and other natural habitats.

Defra claims productivity improvements will offset the impact of these land-use changes on domestic food production.

National Farmers Union President Tom Bradshaw welcomed the consultation but emphasised the importance of having “British food at its heart”.

“Food security is national security, we must have a land use plan in place, underpinned by sound science and evidence,” Mr Bradshaw said.

Henry Dimbleby, author of the National Food Strategy and co-founder of food chain Leon, said: “A lot of land at the moment is very unproductive and one of the areas that is most unproductive is some of our grazing land.

“There’s no way that we can satisfy all the requirements that we need from our land without reducing our meat production.

“Meat production is about 85% of our current farming use so we can afford to pull that back a bit in order to restore nature, in order to build houses, in order to get clean energy. That is not a major sacrifice.”

According to Defra’s 2023 figures, the UK is 62% self-sufficient in food production, a decline from 78% in 1984. If domestic production decreases, England may need to import more food, heightening its vulnerability to global price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.

The report highlights England’s status as one of the most nature-depleted countries globally, attributing this to poor farming practices and climate change, which have degraded soil and increased water pollution. Under the proposed changes, woodland would cover 16.5% of England’s land by 2050, with an additional 500,000 hectares of new or restored wildlife-rich habitats.

Restoring degraded peatlands could also reduce CO2 emissions by 8 megatons annually, according to Defra’s projections.

Steve Reed stated that Labour would not dictate land use but provide information to help landowners make better decisions.

He said the framework “provides information to make it less likely that land will be used for solar farms when it’s good for food production”.

“There is enough land to build the infrastructure that we need and grow the food that we need and restore nature if we do it in a rational way, based on data,” he added.

He argued that the framework would discourage the use of fertile farmland for solar farms.

However, Kemi Badenoch expressed concerns during a visit to a farm in Cheshire, warning that the proposed changes would burden farmers. She criticised the government for policies she claimed were harming family farms, including tax increases and national insurance hikes.

“To add even more burdens saying that we are going to spend more time on net zero shows they are not serious,” Badenoch said.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, supported the land use framework, arguing it would help move beyond “tired old binary choices” between housing and green space or nature and food. He noted that nature is too often seen as a barrier to development and food security.

Nature was “too often” portrayed as a “barrier to development and food security”, he added.

The consultation invites public input on how England should manage land use changes to meet environmental goals while ensuring food security and supporting rural communities.