Building a Just Transition in UK Farming

A Just Transition means changing from harmful, factory farming to ways of farming that are better for animals, farmers, and the planet. It’s about helping farms make a good living while producing better food, protecting nature, and fighting climate change.

Factory farming often prioritises quantity over welfare. Animals are kept in confined conditions, which can harm their health and wellbeing. It also has significant environmental impacts, including deforestation, water pollution, and high greenhouse gas emissions.

These farming methods aim to grow food with fewer chemicals and less processed animal feed. They often involve things like planting trees in fields, moving animals around to let grass recover, and giving animals space to act naturally.

Farmers see lower costs and healthier animals. For example, animals with access to natural food sources need less purchased feed, veterinary bills can be lower, and farms become better able to cope with sudden changes in the market or weather.

Farmers can get help through government schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery, which pay for nature-friendly practices like healthy soil, tree planting, and better animal care.

Yes. Farms like Brodoclea Woodland Farm in Scotland and Planton Farm in Shropshire have successfully implemented nature-friendly practices. Their pigs, chickens, and other animals thrive under trees with space to forage and express natural behaviours—reducing feed costs and improving animal health.

Sustainable farming practices, like planting trees in fields and using fewer chemicals, can store more carbon in soil and vegetation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve biodiversity on farms.

Yes. The aim isn’t to produce less food, but to produce it differently. Using fewer chemicals and inputs can still produce high-quality, high-welfare food, while maintaining competitive yields and improving farm resilience.

You can support campaigns calling for government backing for sustainable farming, choose high-welfare products where possible, and spread awareness about nature-friendly farming practices. As a first step, you can sign our No Future for Factory Farming petition - We need as many signatures as possible to show the UK government that the public demands an end to the building and expansion of existing factory farms in the UK.