Farmers and conservation in Post-Brexit Britain; perceptions among the farming community on a changing subsidy regime and implications for on- farm conservation

Thesis

The UK’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union signals a departure from the Common Agricultural Policy. The current proposals for a post-Brexit agricultural policy describe a shift towards a model that subsidises producers for implementing environmentally beneficial practices, rather than high production levels. Studies on existing forms of this subsidy model demonstrate mixed results in terms of improving biodiversity, and studies on farmer’s uptake of such schemes and their attitudes towards them are similarly mixed. These results have implications for policy design given that farmers are the implementers of such schemes. This study will draw on the existing literature as a context through which to investigate the perceptions of farmers and farm managers regarding the proposed agricultural policy landscape they will potentially inhabit. We conclude that ensuring that future schemes are both evidence- based and are planned and implemented with the help of people with a background in agriculture is paramount to their success.

Authors: Wheeler, C

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-azdgb6kr0
• Type of award: MSc
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Agri-environment schemes; Brexit; Agricultural policy; Common Agricultural Policy; Subsidy; Farmers; On-farm conservation; Agriculture; Biodiversity; Conservation; UK; DEFRA; Basic Payment Scheme; Sustainability