Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Department's press release entitled New support to help farmers thrive for generations, published on 16 July 2026, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Farmer Collaboration Fund on farm productivity.

Defra has considered a range of anticipated benefits of the Farmer Collaboration Fund, based on evidence about the economic impact of adopting new business practices following engagement with peers and advisers. The department focussed on reviewing evidence-based best practices recommended by industry experts including AHDB. The fund will also have a direct benefit by giving farmers access to Defra funded facilitators and expert advisers. The magnitude of benefits will depend on farm business circumstances, size and type. We expect all participating farms to benefit from the sharing of information and best practices between peers.