In 2026, international trade and financial
agreements have helped to weaken the
influence of speculators in agricultural
commodity markets. Price spikes are less
severe, helping to reduce market volatility.
This means farmers in all sectors are less susceptible to
boom-and-bust cycles and the profitability see-saw that
existed between livestock and arable farmers. Consequently,
they can plan their businesses for the longer term.
The number of farmers in England has stabilised and there has
been a sustained increase in the number of younger people
taking up careers in farming. Those starting out are supported
through measures that help them take on tenancies for publicly
or community-owned farms. Many have studied at centres
of sustainable agricultural innovation and excellence in the
country’s agricultural colleges, and are introducing innovative
land management practices that have increased food production
and benefited the environment.
Farms don’t just grow food crops: with concerted public and
private investment in research and development and market
incentives, a vibrant bio-economy has developed. Native crops
provide raw materials including bio-composites for many areas of
manufacturing and biomass for energy. The area of land growing
non-food and bioenergy crops is carefully monitored as part of
the Government’s Farming, Food and Environment Strategy.