OF&G 50th Anniversary Survey Findings
11th November 2025
We have released the findings from our 50th anniversary survey, providing an overview of the current agricultural landscape and opportunities within the sector.
Ninety five per cent of respondents say environmental sustainability played an important role in their farming decisions, while two thirds are confident or very confident in the future of organic farming in the UK.
However, the data worryingly reveals that just 3% of farmers feel very prepared for the impacts of climate change. In contrast, 95% of respondent say environmental sustainability plays an important role in their farming decisions.
While many respondents indicate they are undertaking proactive steps to mitigate extreme weather conditions, there remains room for improvement in climate adaptation strategies.
The survey of over 100 UK farmers highlights a stark contrast between optimism for sustainable farming methods and the barriers preventing wider adoption. The biggest challenges facing UK agriculture over the next 5-10 years were cited as government policy and regulation (53%) and climate change (24%).
Yet despite these hurdles, more than half of farmers surveyed said that regenerative and organic practices will be important or very important for the future of UK farming, citing enhanced biodiversity and improved soil health as the key benefits of organic conversion.
OF&G chief executive, Steve Clarkson, believes the research highlights a huge opportunity for the adoption of more benign farming systems in the UK agricultural sector.
“Our findings show that farmers want to do the right thing for the climate, biodiversity and soil health – but the system is currently stacked against them,” says Mr Clarkson.
“There is an urgent need for government policy to support those who are ready to embrace sustainable farming practices that can mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“Although two-thirds of respondents are feeling confident about the future of organic farming, there are clear opportunities to enhance the support available to farmers and ensure that the cost of conversion is not prohibitive.
“As such, we’ll continue working closely with Defra and other partners to ensure that organic farming is recognised as a cornerstone of the UK’s food and farming future. By building on a half century of proven impact, we hope to remove the barriers to organic conversion and release the organic sector’s untapped potential.”