This will require proactive government strategy at both national and regional levels. In order for this strategy to address the views and needs of affected communities and sectors, it must integrate with all new and existing policies which set targets for agriculture, land use, greenhouse gas emissions and food. The principles of a just transition should be embedded in existing and forthcoming related government policies.
The strategy should be founded on inclusive policies which avoid worsening the entrenched inequalities within the current system, and actively work to reverse existing inequalities. This includes gender-responsive and gender-transformative policies, strategies to support new entrants, women and young people into the sector, mechanisms for community mobilisation, and policies to remove the barriers experienced by ethnic or religious minorities.
To facilitate a just transition, the design of the strategy must be inclusive and participatory, built from the voices of key actors. Farmers, landworkers and communities must be given the opportunity to shape their own future, allowing lived experience to guide agricultural sector reform.
The strategy should include, but is not limited to:
- Sufficient finance for the transition, ensuring the profitability of sustainable farms throughout the transition and beyond. This should include payment for environmental services and a transition to mixed farming and agroecology, in recognition of its higher welfare and improved sustainability.
- Impact assessments and research should be carried out at regional, national, and UK wide level to better understand the impacts of a reformed agricultural sector, climate change and climate change policies on the food and farming in the UK, covering areas such as threats to jobs, skill shortages, and opportunities for job/ skill creation. These assessments should be used to inform strategy development.
- Adequate resources and funding to facilitate the reskilling, retraining and education of those who are required to alter their practices. Farmers and those asked to deliver the transition should not carry the cost of (re)training, and cost should not be a barrier for those who can’t afford to pursue new education opportunities.
- Government collaboration with educational institutions should be explored, and adequate funding should be allocated to address any research gaps in technical or procedural knowledge which may affect the transition or the outcome of the transition.
- Governments should work with unions to implement strategies to transition towards ‘better’ farming practices, enabling farmers to take up positions within the green economy such as agro-ecological farming.
- Social protection for farmers and/or workers is needed to underpin the transition in trust, affirming the idea that support will be continuous and not affected by short term politics. This protection can take many forms and may include yield/income loss support, job guarantees, fair wage guarantee, and safe pensions.
- Linking with other departments to provide a market for products and/or activities delivered under better standards, i.e. leveraging public procurement policy, and consumption based support, such as through vouchers for those on low incomes
- Regulate corporate power, halting the concentration of profits and influence held by corporate agrifood business. A strong regulatory framework should be introduced to strengthen fairness rules for retailers and large scale supply chain intermediaries, ensure fair pay for producers, and facilitate fair and transparent supply chains.
