Nitrogen Reduction, Recycling and Reuse (Environment and Climate Change Committee Report)

Lord Roborough Excerpts

Tuesday 6th January 2026 Grand Committee

[Lord Roborough (Con)]

My Lords, I thank the Environment and Climate Change Committee for its excellent work in producing this report. I thank its members for their contributions to this debate, as well as those who submitted valuable evidence to help assess ways in which we can reduce nitrogen pollution.

I am pleased to highlight that the 2023 data shows that we met our commitment to reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxide by 55%, based on 2005 levels, under the Gothenburg protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

Before I continue, I draw the Committee’s attention to my registered interests as a dairy and livestock farmer and as an investor in the soil-testing company Agricarbon and the nature finance companies Karner and Cecil.

This report’s recommendations affect a range of sectors, including agriculture, wastewater and transport, which are identified as the main contributors to nitrogen pollution in England. To take into account the holistic nature of this issue, we welcome the report’s recommendation for a cross-departmental, circular approach to nitrogen pollution; this will help deliver better outcomes for farmers, public health, nature, wildlife and the climate. We also agree that, at present, there is a lack of a clear policy direction from the Government to give businesses the certainty they need. We strongly endorse the report’s recommendation to simplify the regulatory system.

The Government’s response does not reject any of the report’s conclusions, but it does not fully agree with each of them. As Conservatives, we welcome the Government’s emphasis on the need for value for money and on streamlining different outputs where possible, such as by merging the recommended nitrogen strategy into the upcoming circular economy strategy for England. However, I express concern about the approach towards the agricultural sector in particular. Throughout their response to the report, the Government highlight their existing commitment to increase over three years funding for the Environment Agency to conduct farm inspections, with a target of 6,000 by 2029. Although we recognise that farms must adhere to the rules, we are concerned that this approach uses a stick rather than offering a carrot to hard-working farmers. The Government must ensure that these inspections are led by advice—for example, in increasing farmers’ awareness of the potential profitability benefits of regenerative farming practices; improving soil structure and fertility; and supporting yields while reducing reliance on manufactured fertiliser.

I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Leicester for his pioneering role in regenerative farming in this country—perhaps the new Norfolk system. I should also draw attention to another of my interests: I am an investor in SLC Agrícola, a Brazilian farming company on 2 million acres that is, surprisingly, already regenerative. It is very much its own scale and access to technology, as well as the best advice, that enables it to be so.

When it comes to incentivising transitions to greener practices, we should recognise that farmers already use nitrogen fertiliser judiciously and that its use has fallen by 50% since 1990, as highlighted in the evidence given by Tom Bradshaw. Moreover, we are still awaiting details on the reformed sustainable farming incentive offer. Can the Minister confirm whether the Government are considering compensating farmers for reductions in fertiliser use through the SFIs that are yet to be published? Can she also indicate the role of existing and new market-based nutrient neutrality schemes in helping to meet these targets, while also providing financial incentives to land managers?

Industry contacts have informed me that the inclusion of support for nature-based solutions in the Water (Special Measures) Act has already had tangible benefits in activity levels. What further contribution to nitrogen reductions can be achieved through the implementation of the Cunliffe review? As the Minister has already been asked when we should expect the White Paper on water strategy, I will not ask again, but, if there is any more information on its timing and legislation on the back of that, it would be helpful.

The committee’s report rightly expresses concern about the low levels of understanding of farm regulations and identifies the

“lack of a trusted source”

for guidance amid the number of sources available. The Government have agreed with this conclusion, but their response goes on to list a number of sources: the catchment-sensitive farming scheme; a planned new nutrient management tool; the amended farming rules for water statutory guidance; and the catalogue of compliance that is currently under review. This demonstrates the existing problem. Will the Government commit to creating a simplified source for these schemes that ensures that farmers are made aware of their existence and are promptly kept updated of any changes?

To tackle ammonia emissions, the Government have said that they are considering an extension of environmental permitting for dairy and intensive beef farms, but concerns have recently been raised that some farmers may not be able to afford the investments necessary to remain compliant. We hold our farmers to higher standards than those against whom they are competing overseas; that carries greater costs, undermining competitiveness. What concrete actions are the Government planning to support profitability for our farmers while they bear these higher costs? Will the same environmental standards be extended to imported food products in order to protect British farmers from unfair competition?

Further, will the Environment Agency or its successors provide assistance to farmers and recommendations to planning officers in relation to planning applications for the infrastructure that is needed to reduce pollution? Too many necessary infrastructure developments are held up in the planning system; I have experience of this myself, I am afraid. As the noble Baroness, Lady Batters, highlighted in her excellent report, farming profitability is on its knees, and loading more regulation and cost on to the industry is potentially disastrous.

Later this year, the Government are due to announce a new farming road map for 2050. Could the Minister commit that they will listen to stakeholders in advance of policies being announced so that businesses can plan ahead effectively, as the first step of rebuilding trust? I am sure that, across this Committee, we want to help businesses to reduce, recycle and reuse, but the Government must allow for businesses’ financial models to be sustainable in the first place. By 2030, the Government hope to deliver a 73% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions against a 2005 baseline level, and to reduce ammonia emissions by 16% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. Will they commit to keeping this target under review to ensure that a focus on fixed end-point targets does not create viability issues for businesses or excessive costs for consumers?

We challenge the Government to seek to understand how private businesses work in the farming industry as well as in the wider economy. Businesses are being crippled by increasing costs of employment through national insurance contributions and minimum wages, through less flexibility in employment through the Employment Rights Act and through the unique challenges to the farming industry from the unreliability of environmental land management schemes under this Government. Creating greater investment and compliance burdens through regulation undermines our farming industry. Compliance with statutory requirements must be incentivised and guided by the appropriate timelines and easily accessible information, not just enforced by an empowered arm’s-length body. I look forward to engaging constructively with the Government on this matter and I am very grateful for other noble Lords’ contributions to this debate.