water management

Drought explained Written by Defra Press Office Water running from a tap What is drought? There isn’t a single definition for drought so whilst it’s caused by a period of low rainfall, the nature, timing and impacts on people, the environment, agriculture or business will vary. Some...

Written by Colm Ryan from Agriland The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced £10 million in grants for cattle farmers in England to help them introduce modern facilities to their farms to replace their aging cattle buildings. The announcement came today...

Tiptree Farms is situated in one of the driest spots inside the driest county in England. As a result, water has always been a precious resource, and the farm has been proactively managing it for years. Learn more about how it does this. About the farm Situated on a 300-hectare site in Essex...

In the realm of sustainable agriculture, the interconnectedness of numerous factors becomes increasingly evident. One such critical relationship exists between water and soil. Water, the elixir of life, plays a pivotal role in nurturing soil health, while in turn, soil acts as a vital guardian...

CLA Land Use Policy Adviser Matthew Doran dives deeper into the value of lowland peat for landowners and our environment 88% of all the greenhouse gas emissions from peat in the UK comes from lowland peat. Whilst we often hear about the importance of protecting upland peat, lowland peat –...

Agriculture, as one of the oldest human activities, has evolved significantly over the years. While conventional agriculture has allowed us to feed a growing population, it has also contributed to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation. However, there is hope on the...

Reducing risk and building resilience are two of the strategies being deployed by farmer Andrew Pitts to respond to the environmental and geopolitical challenges that the last five years have presented the agricultural industry. Andrew will be part of the Farmer Panel at Agri-TechE’s 2023 REAP...

Transforming Agriculture with Digital Solutions in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) : A Step Towards Sustainable Water Management Introduction The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces an ongoing water scarcity crisis, which poses significant challenges to the agricultural sector...

Coverage of the third National Adaptation Programme launch Written by Defra Press Office A photograph taken in the forest at Entwistle Reservoir in Darwen There has been coverage in the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent and the Times following the publication of the government’s third...

Tambien disponible en español | Egalement disponible en français Resource depletion and climate change pose major challenges Food, agriculture, and fisheries depend on the world’s natural resources, so future food production will depend on how well these resources are conserved and used...

India’s diverse physical features and climatic conditions have resulted in a variety of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal and marine ecosystems. These ecosystems harbor and sustain high biodiversity and contribute to human wellbeing. At the moment, the Indian...

Water Management grant: there's still time to apply Written by Gordon Jones Harish Rao I wanted to write a short post to remind you that there’s still time for you to apply for a Water Management grant before the window closes on 12 July. The grant is available to horticultural and...

By Romano De Vivo, Vice President of Sustainability Food systems face many challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, population growth, and dietary changes. Balancing trade-offs in such a complex landscape can be daunting, especially when striving to increase productivity...

Desertification, the process by which fertile land turns into arid desert, poses a significant threat to our planet's ecosystems and human well-being. However, there is a ray of hope in the form of regenerative agriculture—a holistic approach that not only helps combat desertification but also...

In recent years, the importance of sustainable agricultural practices has gained significant attention. As conventional, intensive farming methods deplete soil nutrients, contribute to deforestation, and increase greenhouse gas emissions, the need for regenerative agriculture has become more...

Farming is one of the world's most important industries. Arguably as the food crisis worsens, it will continue to become even more important. As it does, farmers will need help to increase crops yield and livestock growth. A large part of this help will come from technology and, more...

Our policy advisers have pulled together practical advice on a number of areas affected by ongoing dry weather conditions. We are working on behalf of farmers and growers to mitigate the challenges posed by the prolonged period of dry weather. On this page, you will find: Latest news – East...

Written by Louise Hickey from Agriland The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that global temperatures are likely to reach record levels within the next five years and this will have “far-reaching repercussions” for food security. The WMO said in a new update published today...

Six Months of Delivery Written by defrablogs From our landmark plans to deliver a cleaner, greener country, to the billions of pounds made available to improve nature and support communities, businesses and food producers across the country – we’ve been busy delivering on our commitment to...

Dr Saba Amir, IBERS, Aberystwyth University. Establishment of trees in hen ranges as part of a silvopoultry system is considered to improve poultry welfare, provide wider environmental benefits and increase local biodiversity. Because the adoption of this system by farmers is fairly new, more...