UK Government: You're biting the hand that feeds you (UK Farmers)

Rachel Reeves budget attacks farmers

British farmers are facing unprecedented challenges, caught in the crossfire or controversial shifting policies, economic pressures, and reduced subsidies. Struggles that highlight the need for new solutions to help farmers with a fairer system giving them control of their own P&L (profit and loss) rather than being tied down to manipulative contracts from the wealthy food for the masses distribution centres we know as supermarkets.

The plight or fight of UK Farmers

The challenges for UK farmers have intensified over the recent years, many people unaware just how bad things are, until the critically acclaimed "Clarkson's Farm" become a hit among UK viewers.

The UK government have been seemingly tone death in their approach, not caring too much about the continuous development or sustainability to our countryside, and farming industry.

Since 2015 British farms have seen a reduction in subsidies of 20% since 2015, with many farms losing out over £3,000 annually. The new government accelerated the phase-out of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) meaning more significant cuts, especially for large farms reliant on these payments.

In recent weeks we have seen London overwhelmed with farmers and machinery as they unite to revolt against the government with the new inheritance tax changes. From April 2026, farms valued over £1 million will face 20% inheritance tax, forcing families to sell the assets and land, and making it an existential threat to generational continuity.

In addition to these cuts in income, hike in taxes the government have introduced environmental incentives under schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which is complex and leave many farmers struggling to access adequate support. All while the pressures of rising operational costs and trade challenges further strain their viability.

Grants and government support

The government has maintained a £2.4 billion farming budget, with some increases to targeted grants, such as higher payments for maintaining grasslands and new actions for sustainable farming. Although, these measures have not fully compensated for the substantial reductions in direct payments.

Tenant farmers and upland farmers received additional support, such as exemptions from penalties for early scheme exists and tailored actions for moorland habitats. Yet again these changes fall short in addressing the broader financial crises plaguing the sector.

So what do we need

As the policies continue to shift, the challenges for British farmers demand a reimagining of how they connect with markets and sustain their livelihoods. Amid the backdrop farmers need:

• Fair pricing - Farmers are often trapped in contracts with terms that are not sufficient to ensure their livelihoods, without this impacting the end consumer as intermediaries such as supermarkets pass on the price increase.

  • However, Meta Marketplace is positioned to empower farmers to set fair prices for their produce and making it more transparent to the end users

• Revenue diversification - Meta Marketplace provides opportunities for farmers to tokenise their produce ahead of time and sell quotas, by connecting farmers directly to buyers and logistic providers, ensuing transparency and reduced transaction costs.

• Adaptability - Meta Marketplace simplifies processes and give the control of price back to farmers, offering an alternative to reliance on dwindling government subsidies.

With all the recent changes within the government and investment/support for British farmers need support and a new option. Meta Marketplace represents not just a solutions but an evolutionary partner, ensuring that the hands feeding the nation are strengthened, not weakened.

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