Sponsored feature | Victoria Marshall and James Frankland, HCR Law
British farming underpins our food security and economy, yet its role is often underestimated.
In December, we were reminded of the quality food British agriculture produces and the hard work farmers put in to bring us our Christmas dinner. But farmers aren’t just for Christmas – we rely on them all year to put food on the table and support the UK’s economy. The official GDP figure for the agricultural sector is 0.6 per cent, which many would like to see increased.
The UK government appears to agree. Back in April 2025, it launched a Farm Profitability Review as part of its New Deal for Farmers, led by Minette Batters, former National Farmers’ Union president.
Baroness Batters reported to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at the end of October 2025 after canvassing a wide range of farmers across different agricultural sectors.
She looked at:
– How farmers can reduce barriers to profitability to enhance profit and manage financial resilience, for example through innovation, market access and risk management
– How the supply chain can support farm profitability, for example through fairer distribution of risks and rewards
– What ancillary activities farmers can use to supplement their business, such as diversification.
How will the Farm Profitability Review shape UK food strategy?
The government intends for the review to feed into the development of its Food Strategy, Farming Roadmap and the Land Use Framework.
Why does this matter? In short, profitability and resilience lead to food security. In an increasingly uncertain world, if we can grow our own food and pay our farmers a fair price so they remain in business, we can help mitigate price hikes such as those seen after the war in Ukraine.
The review will also inform the government’s current Land Use Framework consultation, which looks at how we use our land – for example, for food production, environmental benefits or housing.
What happens next?
Baroness Batters has said her report shouldn’t be left on the shelf and should be implemented within a two-year period. She has come back to DEFRA with 57 recommendations, and it’s hoped these will now be published so the debate can begin.
It remains to be seen what recommendations the government will adopt, but what’s clear is that a competitive and profitable agricultural sector benefits everyone.
Victoria Marshall, solicitor, and James Frankland, partner, are both in the Agriculture and Estates team at HCR Law.
Visit hcrlaw.com.
