Many UK livestock farmers say they would move away from intensive production systems if given financial support, but warn that a lack of support is holding back change on the ground.
A poll conducted for the Nature-Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) shows an overwhelming willingness among farmers to adopt nature-friendly livestock systems that improve resilience and long-term viability to climate change.
The study, conducted by market research firm Savanta, found that 94% of farmers would switch to a less demanding system if given the right incentives, highlighting the scale of interest across the sector.
Industrial livestock production is typically associated with high-density indoor systems that rely on imported feed, veterinary inputs, and tightly controlled genetics rather than pasture-based agriculture.
The survey found that many farmers feel increasingly excluded from markets due to concerns that corporate profits are prioritized over equity and sustainability. Young farmers in particular expressed concerns about the dominance of industrial meat production and its impact on future opportunities.
Beyond production methods, the poll revealed strong opinions about how public funds should be spent. Almost three-quarters of farmers say investment should focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and 83% think funding should actively encourage a move away from industrial meat production.
More than half felt that intensive livestock farming systems were damaging the land, and 68% said their environmental impacts disproportionately affected small farms, often making them less competitive.
As support for nature-friendly systems grows, governments and supply chains need to provide long-term financial support, trusted advice and fairer routes to market with viable returns, NFFN said.
The group also warned that high standards of British production risk being undermined by imported goods produced to lower environmental and welfare standards, with associated costs.
NFFN CEO Martin Lynes said: “More farmers are recognizing that the industrial livestock model cannot restore land or ensure the long-term resilience of agricultural businesses.”
He said farmers are “looking for ‘the right animal in the right place’ – well-managed livestock in harmony with the landscape to increase land fertility, support biodiversity and cycle nutrients in the soil, while producing delicious food.”
He added that with the right support, “more farmers will move to diverse, nature-friendly systems” and said it was important that the UK’s high standards of food production were not compromised. “Governments and supply chains need to recognize that nature and food production are inextricably linked,” he said.
NFFN farmer Amy Chapple, who farms with her parents in Devon, said young farmers were increasingly exploring alternatives. “Young farmers are more active online and on social media, making it easier for them to explore alternatives to industrial livestock production,” she said.
But change comes with risks, she warned. “It’s really encouraging to see so many farmers wanting to change the way they work, but the right support is essential. It’s not easy to make fundamental changes when you have a family to support, or you’ve been farming the same way for decades.”
