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Sustainable farming is becoming increasingly important as the agriculture industry strives to find ways of preserving the environment: in recent years, intensive farming has been linked to soil and water pollution, a loss of wildlife and poor animal welfare. At a time when climate change, water shortages and soil degradation are threatening food production, environmental organisations are highlighting new ways of feeding a growing world. They argue that we don't need factory farms, genetically modified seeds or chemicals. Instead, we must improve methods of producing food and find ways of restoring the soil, reducing emissions and protecting local ecosystems, according to Friends of the Earth. The group is backing sustainable farming, suggesting we should eat less meat and dairy products, while ensuring those we do eat are of a higher quality. People also need to eat more plant-based foods and waste less food, creating a healthy environment for our farming industry, says Friends of the Earth. Scientists predict climate change may cause agriculture productivity to decline by 17% by 2050. The main problem will be the predicted increase in temperatures and the changes in rainfall patterns. This could significantly reduce the harvest of healthy crops, according to projections. However, scientists believe farmers can adapt to the expected changes through adopting sustainable farming methods. This would enable them to produce more food, while continuing to run an efficient business model.   Pilot scheme Sustainable farming in the UK is something the government is taking very seriously. In June 2021, the government launched its Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot scheme to explore new ways of practicing eco-friendly agriculture. The scheme rewards farmers who manage their land in an environmentally sustainable way. Currently, more than 2,000 farmers are taking place in the pilot scheme, with the full scheme being rolled out during 2022. They are implementing sustainable farming on their land and taking part in learning activities based on their experiences. Providing comprehensive feedback on a regular basis about what's successful and what isn't; they will live by a set of land management standards designed to promote cleaner air and water, create greener landscapes and improve biodiversity. Farmers must work in ways that will reduce environmental risks such as climate change and flooding. The standards are aimed at achieving the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan goals, including carbon net zero targets. There are various options in the pilot scheme for transforming agricultural land, such as creating more arable and horticultural land; improving grassland; low input grassland; farm woodlands; extra hedgerows and more. Depending on how successful the pilot schemes are, the choices are open to amendment before the full scheme is launched in 2022. It is part of a wider environmental framework, in line with the government's pledge to protect 30% of the UK’s land by 2030, and to establish a Nature Recovery Network.   Sustainable vs unsustainable farming Agriculture has been refined over time to accommodate the ever-growing human population. In years gone by, crops were usually organic and existed as part of the natural landscape. However, as communities grew, existing crops dwindled. The population boom in the late 20th century pressurised science to find ways of maximising the plants' potential. This has involved gene manipulation techniques and synthetic chemicals. Agricultural production has increased globally during the past century, leading to increased degradation and pollution of the natural environment. However, the farming practices have become unsustainable. To meet the needs of our growing population, without damaging the planet, it has become necessary to implement a global move towards sustainable farming. This means finding the most sustainable and cost-effective way to feed the population.  Traditional agricultural methods that people have been perfecting for thousands of years can help to answer this question. Sustainable farming aims to produce crops without using synthetic chemicals or fertilisers, promoting biodiversity and enhancing soil composition. This type of farming was practiced for generations before modern, intensive farming methods took over. It relies on preserving the ecosystem to produce sufficient yields, while maintaining the quality and biodiversity of the landscape. Unsustainable farming uses synthetic chemicals and fertilisers to maximise the yield of particular sets of crops, which are often genetically modified. A significant amount of chemicals and energy input is required for this method of farming, which weakens the landscape over time. Sustainable farming will make the farm more resilient; improving productivity; reducing soil erosion; and providing additional benefits, such as increasing the number and range of products the farmers can produce, either for subsistence or to sell. Scientists believe simple steps, such as improving the pasture, can aid more sustainable ways of raising livestock. The animals' wellbeing will be improved with better feed, while the higher quality pastures will be more resilient against heatwaves, drought and any natural disasters that might occur.   Are UK farms sustainable? New data released by Defra in June 2021 revealed a growth in organic and sustainable farming in the UK. A massive 72% of land in Britain is currently used by farmers for food production. Defra says it is "optimistic" about the future, after research revealed an additional 12% of UK land was currently "in conversion" to support organic and sustainable farming methods. This means a total of 489,000 hectares of land are farmed organically or sustainably today. The Organic Farmers and Growers organisation has cited "growing evidence of a healthy, long-term outlook", after its own data pointed to an even more optimistic picture than Defra had painted. Between June 2020 and June 2021, the number of inquiries about more sustainable farming methods increased by around 70%. Friends of the Earth is calling for more farmers to combine trees with farming, as agroforestry helps to remove carbon out of the atmosphere and makes farming more sustainable, profitable and productive. Agroforestry is popular in Europe in countries such as Portugal and Spain. Now, pioneering UK farmers are joining the scheme by adding more hedgerows and trees to their land.   Livestock farming A report on land use by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggested meat production was only one aspect of a balanced look at agriculture. Many livestock farmers say the current trend of switching to a plant-based diet to avert climate change is painting a gloomy picture of the industry that isn't necessarily accurate. They argue that although ruminants such as cattle emit methane, the pasture on which they graze actually absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. In the UK, ten million hectares of grassland is said to absorb 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year. While UK agriculture contributes around 10% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, livestock farmers say this doesn't take into account their ability to soak up CO2 at the same time. The National Farmers' Union has even committed to the goal of a net-zero emissions target for agriculture by 2040. This is ten years sooner than the government’s own target. Combating climate change is a complex challenge that can't be solved overnight, but one thing is clear: British farmers have never been more environmentally aware and proactive. In recent years, more than 10,000 hectares of wildflowers have been planted and 30,000 km of farmland hedges have been introduced or restored in an effort to reverse the decline of the landsc