Climate target revision for hort businesses

Horticulture businesses are set to benefit from an extension to the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme after a new target period was negotiated by NFU Energy and the NFU with the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

DESNZ proposed a challenging 40.9 per cent energy efficiency improvement target for horticulture, as well as a 12 per cent target for poultry. Recognising that these proposed targets did not accurately reflect the energy efficiency of participating businesses, NFU Energy, with support from the NFU, advocated for more achievable targets.

As a result, DESNZ has agreed to extend the CCA scheme by an additional two years until March 2027, with revised reduction targets now 13 per cent for horticulture and 10 per cent for poultry.

NFU Energy managing director Tim Crocker explained: “This is a significant victory for horticulture and poultry businesses participating in the Climate Change Agreement scheme.

“By working collaboratively with both members and the NFU it meant that we could successfully advocate for revised reduction targets that accurately reflect the challenges faced by businesses in the Last Target Period.

“We, at NFU Energy, extend our gratitude to all those that have contributed to this achievement.”

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw added: “The revision of these targets is a win for collaboration and the commitment to sustainable energy practices, and they are now fair and realistic for the horticulture and poultry businesses involved in the scheme.

“The CCA is one of the few government incentive schemes that has consistently encouraged energy users to do the right thing and make positive changes to boost their efficiency and productivity and reduce their environmental impact. While we want to see this scheme continued long-term, we also believe any future replacement schemes should be more inclusive, reaching farmers and growers outside the current target sectors.

“British farmers and growers play a crucial role in producing sustainable and climate-friendly food. The sector has an ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 which must be matched by government policy, and the CCA scheme is a step towards reaching that goal.”