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The Sustainable Farming Incentive

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is a key component of the UK Government's Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, designed to reward farmers for adopting environmentally sustainable practices while continuing to maintain productive agricultural activity. The SFI encourages farmers to implement practices that enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, boost water quality, and promote climate resilience. With its flexible approach, the SFI caters to farms of all sizes and types, making it accessible to a wide range of agricultural operations. By offering payments for actions that benefit the environment, the SFI aims to create a more sustainable, resilient farming sector and contribute to the UK's broader environmental goals, paving the way for a greener future in agriculture.

The main objectives of the SFI are to:

  1. Protect and benefit the environment

  2. Support food production

  3. Improve productivity

A green field

The transition is taking place over several years, starting in 2021 and continuing through the end of 2027, with the aim of creating a fairer, more sustainable farming industry. The plan is structured around three main environmental schemes, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) being the first of these to be rolled out.

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The Agricultural Transition Plan is a key component of the UK government's strategy for transitioning to a more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally responsible agricultural sector. This plan is designed to gradually replace the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a new system that better supports environmental goals, biodiversity, and climate action, while still ensuring that farming remains profitable and viable for future generations.

Agricultural Transition Plan

Grassland views

Local Nature Recovery (LNR) and Landscape Recovery (LR) are vital schemes under the UK’s Agricultural Transition Plan, designed to assist farmers and land managers in enhancing environmental sustainability and biodiversity.

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LNR aims to restore nature in areas with threatened biodiversity by improving habitats, ecosystems, water quality, and soil health, while establishing nature recovery networks to connect fragmented habitats.

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Landscape Recovery, on the other hand, supports large-scale projects that restore ecosystems through rewilding, habitat creation, and changes in land use, benefiting biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery

New Standards that were Launched Within the SFI

Moorlands

In 2022, Three New Standards were Launched

  • arable and horticulture soils standard

  • improved grassland soils standard

  • moorland standard

Bird sitting on a hedgerow

In 2023, Six New Standards were Launched

  • nutrient management standard

  • integrated pest management standard

  • hedgerows standard

  • arable and horticultural land standard

  • improved grassland standard

  • low/no input grassland standard

We can provide the following mixtures:

  • AHW1 - Bumblebird Mix: Option 1 Autumn Sown

  • AHW1 - Bumblebird Mix: Option 2 Spring Sown

  • AHW3 - Beetle Banks

  • AHW8 / AHW9 / AHW10 - Cereals

  • BFS1/2/3 - Watercourse Buffer Strip

  • CAHL1 - Pollen and Nectar Flower Mix- Option 1

  • CAHL1 - Pollen and Nectar Flower Mix - Option 2 

  • CAHL1 - Pollen and Nectar Flower Mix - Option 3 

  • CAHL2 - Winter Bird Food - Option 1 Grey Partridge

  • CAHL2 - Winter Bird Food - Option 2 Tree Sparrow

  • CAHL2 - Winter Bird Food - Option 2 Finches & Bunting 

  • CAHL3 - Grassy Fields Corners or Blocks - Option 1 

  • CAHL3 - Grassy Fields Corners or Blocks - Option 2

  • CAHL3 - Grassy Fields Corners or Blocks - Option 3

  • CAHL4 - Grass Buffer Strip on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 1

  • CAHL4 - Grass Buffer Strip on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 2 

  • CAHL4 - Grass Buffer Strip on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 3

  • CIGL3 - Grass Buffer Strip on Improved Grassland - Option 1

  • CIGL3 - Grass Buffer Strip on Improved Grassland - Option 2

  • CIGL3 - Grass Buffer Strip on Improved Grassland - Option 3

  • CIMP2 - Flower-rich Grass Margins, Blocks or In-field Strips

  • CIMP3 - Companion Crop on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 1

  • CIMP3 - Companion Crop on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 2

  • CIMP3 - Companion Crop on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 3

  • CIMP3 - Companion Crop on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 4

  • CIMP3 - Companion Crop on Arable and Horticultural Land - Option 5

  • CLIG3 - Manage Grassland with Very Low Nutrient Inputs - Option 1

  • ​CLIG3 - Manage Grassland with Very Low Nutrient Inputs - Option 2

  • ​CLIG3 - Manage Grassland with Very Low Nutrient Inputs - Option 3

  • CNUM2 - Legumes Only - Option 1

  • CNUM2 - Legumes Only - Option 2

  • CNUM2 - Legumes Only - Option 3

  • CNUM2 - Legumes and Grasses - Option 1

  • CNUM2 - Legumes and Grasses - Option 2 

  • CNUM2 - Legumes and Grasses - Option 3

  • CNUM3 - Legume Fallow - Option 1

  • CNUM3 - Legume Fallow - Option 2 with Grass

  • CSSAM2 - Multi Species Winter Cover Crop

  • CSSAM3 - Herbal Leys - Option 1

  • ​CSSAM3 - Herbal Leys - Option 2

  • CSSAM3 - Herbal Leys - Option 3

  • CSSAM3 - Herbal Leys - Option 4

  • CSSAM3 - Herbal Leys - Option 5

  • SOH2 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 1

  • SOH2 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 2

  • SOH2 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 3

  • SOH3 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 1

  • SOH3 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 2

  • SOH3 - Multi-Species Spring Sown Cover Crop - Option 3

  • SOH4 - Winter Cover Following Maize Crops - Option 1 

  • SOH4 - Winter Cover Following Maize Crops - Option 2

  • SOH4 - Winter Cover Following Maize Crops - Option 3

  • SOH4 - Winter Cover Following Maize Crops - Option 4

  • SOH4 - Winter Cover Following Maize Crops - Option 5

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