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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of industrial livestock farming on the UK's capacity to reach its net zero targets.

As part of the cross-Whitehall Carbon Budget Delivery Plan 2023 (CBDP), Defra published 25 on-farm decarbonisation measures to reduce agricultural emissions and meet our Carbon Budget 4 to 6 commitments, including measures aimed at supporting livestock emissions reduction.

To support ongoing delivery and identify further opportunities for emissions reduction, Defra is actively exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through scientific research into livestock management, feed, and breeding.

Looking ahead, the Government will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with statutory requirements. This will outline the next phase of the UK’s net zero pathway, including future policies to further decarbonise agriculture.