Agriculture Act 2020

The Agriculture Act 2020 establishes a new system of agricultural subsidies, replacing the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. 

Section 1(1) of the Act provides that financial assistnace may be provided to those involved in agricultural, horticultural, or forestry activities for a number of purposes, including "managing land, water, or livestock in a way that mitigates or adapts to climate change."

The act also includes a number of provisions aimed at enhancing transparency in agri-food suppky chains, including the potential creation of reporting schemes that would take "climatic risk" into account.

Section 35 of the Act also provides for the creation of a production side "red meat levy" scheme.

Further detail on the Government's plans for achieving a transition to Net Zero and a recovery for nature are set out in the policy document "The path to sustainable farming: An agricultural transition plan 2021 to 2023".