Chaired by Jane Thynne of Farmers Guardian, the panel featured prominent figures in the agricultural and environmental sectors: Barbara, Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair of the Labour Climate and Environment Forum; Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network; Gavin Lane, Deputy President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA); and David Barton, Livestock Board Chair at the National Farmers Union (NFU). 

As discussions got underway, it became clear that while the framework is seen as a necessary tool for guiding land use, concerns remain over its implementation and effectiveness. Baroness Young stressed the importance of ensuring a structured approach, saying, “If we get this properly structured, it will provide fewer of the crazy decisions we’ve seen in the past, like putting solar panels on Grade One agricultural land. But I worry that there’s still not enough certainty in the direction we are heading.” 

Gavin Lane echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for the framework to be an enabling tool rather than a top-down directive. “We see it as something that should help people make informed decisions about what is best for their business. If it can work from the bottom up, then it shows promise. But as we’ve seen time and again, there is a massive breakdown of trust between farming and the government, and that needs to be addressed if this framework is going to succeed.” 

Martin Lines placed nature at the heart of the discussion, highlighting its fundamental role in sustainable food production. “Nature underpins food production and food security,” he said. “If we put nature at the heart of our landscapes, we can reverse the decline we’ve seen for generations. But the question is, how do we bring together local nature strategies and see the big picture? We’ve spent the last 20 or 30 years improving biodiversity, only to have major infrastructure projects like railways cut straight through the land. If we’re going to invest in these schemes, we need long-term certainty.” 

David Barton welcomed the framework but expressed reservations about how it might be applied. “Giving us a clear direction of travel is key, but I’m really uncomfortable with drawing rigid lines on maps. It’s easy to do that from a London office, but in reality, it won’t work. We need to look at multi-use farming systems where renewables and food production can coexist. The government has a big job to do in making this work, and they need to collaborate with farmers rather than dictate to them.” 

Community Concerns and the Role of Data 

Concerns were also raised about how effectively the framework would function in practice. Gavin Lane shared a frustrating example, stating, “These frameworks are only as good as the people running them. Our local nature recovery team in Norfolk hasn’t even reached out to us yes, that’s not collaboration. Just because we now have a framework doesn’t mean it will work.” 

Martin Lines pointed out the confusion caused by overlapping government strategies, saying, “We’ve got so many different strategies and consultations happening at the same time. The big worry is, how do we stitch them all together? We talk about the role of farming in the future, about taking 9% of land out of production, but out of what production, and into what? This land is still producing something.” 

David Barton reinforced the importance of maintaining a balance between food production and environmental goals. “We need to be wary of how much food we need to produce to feed our nation, we still need to feed our nation properly and sustainably. We can see ways in which productivity can improve through nature and farming, working together and working smarter.” 

A major talking point was the role of data in land use planning. Baroness Young emphasised that a wealth of data already exists but isn’t being used effectively. “There’s an enormous amount of data collected by agronomists, landowners, and farmers every single day. The problem is that it’s not being pooled together to create real, fine-scale models that could inform better decision-making.” 

Gavin Lane voiced concerns over the lack of a baseline to measure progress. “The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) completely missed a trick by not including a baseline. Without it, we have no way of knowing whether these initiatives are actually successful.” 

The Role of Retailers and Consumer Demand 

The conversation turned to whether retailers should take greater responsibility in driving sustainable farming. David Barton was pragmatic about the role of consumer demand, stating, “If the consumer demands it, the retailer will deliver. The challenge is figuring out where that demand comes from. If it’s not coming from consumers, how do we get retailers to make these changes?” 

Baroness Young argued that food strategy will soon become unavoidable in the political landscape. “We’re facing rising levels of diabetes in this country, and the food strategy is going to have to address that. The supermarkets know change is coming.” 

A Path Forward 

As the discussion wrapped up, the panellists agreed that the Land Use Framework has the potential to create a more resilient and productive food system, but only if it is built on trust, collaboration, and long-term vision. 

“I hope this framework provides some hope for a more resilient food system,” said Gavin Lane. “We totally underestimated the importance of energy security 10 years ago, and I fear we’re doing the same with water security now. We need to come out of this with better foresight.” 

Barbara, Baroness Young, issued a final warning about the dangers of poorly planned infrastructure projects undoing years of environmental progress. “We’ve seen nature recovery projects completely undermined by decisions made elsewhere, look at HS2 going through ancient woodlands, or East West Rail cutting through conservation areas. If we don’t guide infrastructure away from crucial areas, we’re going to keep repeating these mistakes.” 

The Land Use Framework is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but its success will depend on how well it integrates food production, nature conservation, and renewable energy while ensuring that the voices of farmers and landowners are heard. The panel at the Low Carbon Agriculture Show 2025 provided a crucial platform for debate, but as many speakers emphasised, the real challenge lies ahead in making it work on the ground. 

For those eager to stay engaged, the conversation doesn’t end here. Collaboration, innovation, and accountability will be key in shaping the future of land use in the UK. 

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