Brexit Impact on Organic Farming Insights

In 2023, the profit of UK farming might fall by up to one-third compared to 2022. Many challenges are appearing from Brexit, which ended on December 31, 2020. This change is affecting organic farming a lot. It’s making it hard for British farmers to follow EU rules and deal with export issues, said the Soil Association.

Organic farming does a lot for the environment and helps with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. But, it faces dangers because of the changing climate and policies. Only a small number of farmers signed up for help under the Sustainable Farming Incentive in 2022. This shows the doubts and hopes farmers have. The help to make soil better is estimated between £22 to £40 for each hectare.

Brexit is changing food prices and who the UK trades with. In the first two years after Brexit, British people paid £6 billion more for food. That’s about a 3% increase each year. Because 77% of the food they got before Brexit came from the EU, the effects are felt in the organic farming sector.

• UK farming profits may drop by up to one-third in 2023 due to Brexit.
• Only 1,829 out of approximately 85,000 eligible farmers applied for the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
• Soil quality improvement measures were valued between £22 and £40 per hectare under the incentive scheme.
• British consumers faced an additional £6 billion in food costs in the first two years post-Brexit.
• 77% of food imports came from EU countries before Brexit, significantly impacting the organic farming sector.

After Brexit, the UK’s organic sector followed EU rules until December 2020. Now, new standards and rules are in place. These changes are significant for the organic farming industry.

The EU aims to make 25% of farmland organic by 2030. Now, around 80% of the UK’s nature, food, and farm laws are from the EU. But, leaving means the UK could set different rules, affecting how it works with the EU.

Since leaving the EU, the UK has its own organic farming rules. This affects the 3,788 farmers and their 300,600 hectares. They now face new certification and importing rules.

Brexit has a big effect on UK agriculture, especially organics. Not agreeing with EU rules could harm trade. This affects the 8% of organic goods the UK sells to the EU.

The UK government is also thinking about changing gene editing rules. This might affect how organic food is produced.

Trying to manage farming laws by itself creates problems too. The UK Internal Market Act and border concerns make things harder. It’s tough to keep organic rules the same all over the UK.

Brexit’s impact on organic farming offers both challenges and chances for the UK. Around 8% of the UK’s organic goods are exported, making up a value of over US$3 billion. These goods go mainly to EU countries, showing how vital it is for the UK to keep global market access for organic food safety post-Brexit.

The UK organic sector is at risk due to the uncertain Brexit trade deals. Issues could arise in trading organic seeds, plants, crops, and animals, impacting goals like fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity. These challenges may hurt the sector’s efforts to ensure food security.

EU and UK organic regulations are considered equal until 31 December 2023, giving a short-term relief. However, starting 1 January 2022, for goods exported from the EU to the UK, a GB Certificate of Inspection (GB COI) in paper form is needed. This paper-work rule could threaten organic food security post-Brexit.

On the other hand, goods going from the UK to the EU need an electronic Certificate of Inspection (eCOI) via TRACES NT. This change adds more work for certifiers and exporters. It might slow down the move to sustainable farming practices in the UK, affecting climate efforts.

The Soil Association and others must work through the new trade rules. They aim to keep organic farming growing and improve global access. As non-organic farming heavily uses agrochemicals, promoting organic farming is crucial for the environment.

Dr Bruce Pearce from the Organic Research Centre is worried about less support for organic farming and its sustainability. Northern Ireland has special rules to help the organic market there stay stable. To manage these new trade rules well and ensure food security, the government and industry must work together.

Shifting from the EU’s digital organic certification system (TRACES) to the UK’s paper-based systems poses big challenges. It has caused issues for suppliers of organic food, impacting how fast they can operate and their costs.

The TRACES system was efficient, cutting down on issues and wait times. After Brexit, however, the UK started using paper-based methods. This change needed organic suppliers to prepare lots of paper forms for checking at UK borders, leading to slowdowns.

Using paper for certifications is tough for suppliers. Amit Shah from VAL Group explains that it’s made a lot more work for those handling paperwork. Also, the risk of mistakes has gone up. This has slowed down the supply chain’s pace.

The impact on money is serious. Having to use paper and more checks means more costs. This extra, around £400-£500 per shipment, affects suppliers a lot. This financial strain is tough for smaller businesses in the organic field.

The move to paper certification systems has created serious challenges. These need attention to keep the UK’s organic market sustainable. [organic certification challenges]

Here is the comparative table on the key impacts caused by this shift:

After Brexit, the UK’s organic farmers face many changes. They have new chances but also new challenges. It’s a time to rethink how they farm and trade with the world. Despite Brexit’s uncertainty, setting high sustainability standards could be a big plus. The pandemic has shown the need for strong supply chains and stable markets.

Farmers in the UK want to sell more around the world. They know that keeping global market access is key. This push for more markets is even more important now. It can help UK farmers grow. This growth may help them better deal with Brexit’s challenges.

COVID-19 has really shown what’s strong and weak in the organic world. Despite tough times, organic sales went up by 12.6%. They reached £12.79 million in 2020. This tells us people want more organic goods, even with the pandemic.

But, Brexit makes things more complicated. It changes rules and how we trade with others. This could affect the UK’s organic farming. Yet, it also shows us the power of organic food’s popularity.

Getting global market access is crucial for the UK’s organic farms. As new trade deals are discussed, there are good chances ahead. These good terms could boost UK farmers. But, sending out organic foods now costs more. It’s around £400 to £500 extra per shipment. This is tough for many. Plus, the extra paperwork is a big headache. Think about a company from Africa. They had to fill in 10 pages per item they sold to the UK. This makes things a lot harder.

This hard situation is clear from the 5% of rejected shipments to Britain. They weren’t accepted as organic because of paperwork problems. These rejects have cost a lot of money. They affect the market and how UK organic products are seen around the world. The future of UK organic farming greatly depends on Brexit’s outcome. We must balance the opportunities and challenges well.

Brexit’s impact on UK farming hits several points – changing how we trade, who works the land, and even how it’s funded. It’s a big shift that means lots of careful thinking about policy and deals. Over the transition, just a small fraction of farmers applied for a new scheme aimed at greener farming. This shows there are bumps on the road, but also chances to do things differently.

Money matters in farming have seen a big change. Before, under the Common Agricultural Policy, farmers got about £230 per hectare. Now, with the new scheme, the first benefits are at a much lower £22. This highlights the need for big financial shifts to farm sustainably after Brexit.

The UK contributes £17 billion annually to the EU budget, with £6.8 billion attributable to the CAP. Yet, the return of £3.3 billion for agriculture leaves £3.5 billion unaccounted.

UK farmers are predicted to see a big drop in profits next year. This is a clear sign we need new policies to help them, as costs rise and incomes fall. But, there’s a bright spot – going organic. If the government puts effort into this, it could make a huge difference for the environment. Organic farming supports our natural world and could lead to a real shift in how funds are used for farming, making a positive impact.

In the UK, supermarkets take big profits from food sales, which means farmers get very little. As an example, farmers might only get 0.1 pence from an 8.7 pence net profit on a packet of burger patties. Meanwhile, farming gets subsidies that indicate a big gap in funding. Brexit has made these issues more pressing, highlighting the need for focused actions to support farms and the environment.

The Brexit trade deals are very important for organic farming. They affect how easily organic products can be sold. On 1 January 2021, new rules started after the UK left the European Union.

There are new trade deals between the UK, EU, and other worldwide partners. They agreed to recognise each other’s rules for organic goods until 2023. This allows organic items from the EU to be sold in the UK, and the other way around. This insight helps the UK make smart moves to stay strong in the organic market.

Businesses are making big changes for the new trade settings. They must follow new rules and standards, and get new certifications. Selling organic products to the UK now requires lots of paperwork. Companies need to adjust well to keep their organic trade running smoothly.

Also, costs for running the business and certifications have gone up. The Soil Association says they’ll need paper documents at ports for a while. The risk of shipments being rejected as organic is higher. This is why adjusting to these new rules is very important.

To keep the organic farming sector strong, handling the Brexit trade deals is key. Working together and making good trade deals is very important. This approach will decide how well organic farming and trade do in the future.

After Brexit, the UK is changing how it supports organic farming. It’s moving away from the EU’s policies to form its own. This new approach aims to help the planet by supporting eco-friendly farming.

Introduction of UK’s own policies means big cuts for organic farmers in England. They might see a 35% drop in payments under the SFI scheme. This shows how important it is for farmers to adjust to these new policies.

The UK government is now investing £2.4 billion every year in schemes that help the environment. They will pay for things that make our land greener and more sustainable. The payments vary, from £10.38 for a skylark plot to £1,920 for organic fruit farming.

But, a very small number of farmers have applied for these new schemes. This might show that not everyone is ready for these changes. The government must review its policies to better meet the needs of all farmers.

Government support is key, focusing on rewarding practices that help everyone. For instance, farmers get money for improving the soil or for protecting certain plants. The application process for these rewards started in February and will continue in March.

Brexit’s effects on farming go beyond environmental concerns. The financial situation for farmers is also tough. For instance, pig farmers are facing big losses due to expensive food and energy. It’s crucial for government policies to protect farmers’ incomes.

During Brexit, supporting sustainable farming becomes even more important. By directing money to these efforts, the UK hopes to build a strong and eco-friendly farming industry. This is crucial as we move forward from Brexit.

Organic food safety after Brexit is a big concern. It’s vital to solve issues in the supply chain and create strong plans for the future. Due to moving away from online checks, bringing organic food into the UK has become slower and more expensive. The Soil Association and many suppliers of organic food are working hard. They are making changes to handle the new rules on paperwork. These changes help make sure organic food keeps coming and that suppliers can deal with the extra costs.

After Brexit, getting organic food has become tough. The easy EU digital checks are gone. They’re now replaced with hard-to-manage paper checks. This makes life difficult for organic suppliers, especially those from Africa. They now need several paper documents for each item at the border. This adds extra costs, around £400 to £500 for each delivery. Sadly, more than 5% of these organic shipments didn’t pass the organic test in the UK. This caused some to lose money.

To keep organic food safe after Brexit, we need solid plans. One idea is to grow organic food on more land, up to 10% of farmed land. This change would help the environment a lot. It could lower greenhouse gases by 9.4 Mt and cut down nitrogen waste by 50 Kt. There would also be a 25% boost in biodiversity. These changes aren’t just good for the environment. They also make sure the organic food system can deal with future problems. We must make sure getting organic products remains smooth and prices stay fair, despite the challenges for businesses.

Post-Brexit changes will greatly affect sustainable farming in the UK. There’s a big market, worth £3 billion, for organic products. About 8% of these are sold to EU countries. These sales will be affected by new trade agreements from January 2021.

The changes mean we need to think about how leaving EU rules will change farming. Organic farming is good for the environment. It helps with 8 of the 17 global goals for a better world. But, Brexit could help or hurt how much good organic farms can do.

Take Godminster Farm as an example. It puts 875 tonnes less CO2 into the air every year. This shows how good organic farming is for our planet. But, after Brexit, rules on trading organic goods might change. UK farmers will need to adapt to keep up their quality and sales. Also, using agrochemicals in non-organic farms creates a lot of CO2. This means organic farming is even more important now.

Organic farms are better for nature. They see 50% more plants, insects, and birds, and wild bee numbers go up by 75%. This helps in increasing the variety of life around us. But, only a little of the fruit we eat in the UK is from local farms. This makes us think about how much we rely on other countries for our food.

Farms following sustainable ways offer big benefits. They make our rivers cleaner, add to the variety of life, and lower carbon in the air. For instance, Eastbrook Farm mixes trees with crops or animals. This shows a great way of farming that helps the environment. It should inspire others farms too.

The future for organic farming must be looked after well post-Brexit. New policies should help, not hurt, the good organic farms do. They must support the positive effects on our environment.

After the UK left the EU, the Soil Association’s work became really important. They’re making sure UK organic standards are kept high. They’re also working to get these standards recognised by the EU. This means UK farmers can sell their goods more easily in other countries.

Keeping up with EU organic rules is key to the UK’s organic market success. The Soil Association is working hard to do just that. With their efforts, organic UK products will face less hassle selling in the EU.

“Our ongoing efforts to harmonise UK organic certifications with EU standards are crucial to preserving the robust trade relationships we have built over the years,” says a representative from the Soil Association.

The Soil Association is helping farmers switching to organic. This support is vital, especially with the UK increasing grants. For instance, they’re giving £150 for each hectare of land converted. It has led to a 34% increase in 2021. This change is good news for the environment, with biodiversity expected to grow by 25%.

Despite Brexit’s challenges, the environmental advantages of organic farming remain strong. Organic farming covers 3.3% of the UK’s farming land and it is great for nature and soil. There are 300,600 hectares farmed organically by 3,788 farmers, showing a big impact.

If organic farming includes 10% of all farms, the earth would be much better off. This change could cut CO2 emissions by 9.4 million tons. It would also lower nitrogen waste by 50,000 tons and use less antibiotics. Plus, pesticide use would drop by 1.7 tons, and there would be more wildlife on organic farms.

Brexit has made the case for a greener farming future. The UK needs to work on farming policies that are good for the soil. Although the UK isn’t aiming to have as much organic farmland as the EU by 2030, organic sales went up by 12.6% in 2020, breaking records.

Post-Brexit, sticking to sustainable farming is key. Viewing organic farming as a way to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals is important. The efforts to back organic farming’s green benefits show a plan for strong farming, even with Brexit issues.

To soften Brexit’s effect on organic farming, we need strong government action. This involves making helpful policies and supporting farming for the future.

The UK government has a key role to secure the future of UK organics. They should provide clear advice and lots of help. It’s important to change how funds help farmers. Currently, most money goes to just 20% of them. But by limiting how much one farm can get, smaller ones can thrive too.

The future of organic farming in the UK looks bright with some new ideas. For instance, introducing a digital way to get certified can cut costs. This will help suppliers meet the rules after Brexit more easily.

Also, the UK should support farms that use smart, small-scale methods. These can grow as much good food as big farms but in a more eco-friendly way. They should get more help.

To make sure there’s enough home-grown food, the UK must adjust its food plans. It gets a lot of food from the EU and doesn’t keep much in stock. By growing more of its own healthy food, the UK can be safer if importing gets harder.

In short, the UK needs to make smart choices for good farming after Brexit. These should include help from the government and new farming techniques. Such steps are critical for overcoming Brexit’s challenges and boosting organic farming’s future.

Case studies show how UK organic farms are dealing with Brexit changes. They show both achievements and challenges faced by the sector.

Looking into UK organic farms, we see a mix of success and difficulty. A notable fact is the decrease in Scotland’s cattle, dropping from 2.7 million in 1974 to about 1.8 million in 2016. This shows the wide struggles in agriculture.

In Scotland, cattle farms are struggling to be profitable. Despite selling premium products, they face high costs, strong global competition, and poor soil. Without subsidies, the average beef farm would operate at a loss.

Some organic farms are finding success. Many are selling their vegetables directly to consumers through niche markets. This movement has grown, particularly during the pandemic, as people prefer local, organic offerings.

However, Brexit has brought challenges. Finding affordable labour is tough due to new immigration rules. There’s also a worry about imported goods not meeting UK standards. Plus, the increase in paperwork and certification costs is a new difficulty for organic farms.

Family farms are struggling too. Young people are often not interested in farming, and some firms are finding it hard to be profitable. This trend is affecting mainly the smaller, older-owned farms, risking their future.

These case studies show the UK organic farming sector’s struggles and adaptations after Brexit. They highlight the mix of opportunities and obstacles faced in this changing environment.

The Brexit situation has brought both challenges and chances to the UK’s organic farming. It allows the UK to shape its farming policies for the better, especially for the organic sector. But, heading into this new phase needs thoughtful planning.

For 40 years, farming changes have hit wildlife hard and we’ve lost many farm workers. There are new ideas, like Land Sparing, which could help. They aim to grow more trees and save peat. Yet, reaching goals, like cutting 80% of greenhouse gases by 2050, won’t be easy. We must help farms more if we want to succeed.

The Brexit shift has greatly affected how the UK gets its food. Now, there might be two different food quality rules. Changes after Brexit could make farming more intense or hurt small farms. The way the UK brings in food also needs to change. It must get ready for future challenges and make getting food more reliable.

To make a strong and healthy food system after Brexit, the government needs to act smartly. They must support organic farming and make sure food is safe and good for the planet. This way, the UK can deal with Brexit’s bad effects and lead in farming that’s good for the environment.