February 17, 2009

The UK government hopes to introduce a voluntary set-aside scheme to retain the environmental benefits of leaving land fallow, Hilary Benn, Secretary of state for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said Monday (February 16).

Speaking at the National Farmers' Union conference, Benn said he doesn't want to see the set-aside requirement "go back to what it was," but that a decline in farmland birds has prompted the government to consider how farmers can support improved biodiversity.

Until 2007, European Union laws required farmers to leave 10 percent of their land fallow, to reduce the risk of food surpluses. But high food prices led to the set-aside land being set at zero, with the fallow land being brought back into production.

While the set-aside land requirement wasn't introduced because of environmental concerns, farmers say it has had environmental benefits, particularly for bird life.

"I welcome the idea of a voluntary scheme - led by the industry - if we can be sure that it will deliver on these goals."

The government will launch a consultation on the issue in the coming weeks and will make a decision on its approach in the summer, Benn said.