Gresham College talk: Britain’s water pollution, who is responsible?
In his Gresham College talk, NFU Environment Forum chair Richard Bramley took on the complex question of who is at fault for water pollution. Alongside this, Richard also highlighted farmers’ substantial efforts to reduce nutrient losses to water, presenting evidence of significant progress:
- Fertiliser use has decreased dramatically since the 1980s, with nitrogen down 42% and phosphate reduced by 69%.
- Nutrient inputs from manure applications have fallen by 26% since 1990.
- CSF (Catchment Sensitive Farming) initiatives from 2006–2018 reduced agricultural pollutant losses by 4–12% in targeted areas.
Richard emphasised that these reductions have led to measurable improvements in water quality.
“Though it may not be possible for us to ever eliminate (nutrient and soil runoff), we can continue on the path to improve,” Richard stated, underscoring the sectors, ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
Innovation Zero: addressing agricultural water pollution
At Innovation Zero, Richard Bramley focused on agriculture's specific contributions to water pollution, identifying three primary sources:
- Plant protection products
- Nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphates)
- Soil sediment
However, he stressed that these materials are valuable on farms, not in watercourses, driving farmers' motivation to reduce losses.
Richard also challenged the notion that attempts to reduce agricultural runoff have been unsuccessful, citing evidence of significant reductions in nutrient use and measurable improvements in water quality.
He emphasised that recent initiatives, including new regulations and grant schemes, will likely continue this positive trend but require time to show their full impact. Examples of these include:
- The Voluntary Initiative, established in 2001, runs a number of schemes and initiatives to promote stewardship and responsible use of plant protection products, including:
- 2 million hectares of cropped land now covered with Integrated Pest Management Plans.
- The NRoSO (National Register of Sprayer Operators) a professional register which has successfully registered and trained over 20,000 operators.
- The NSTS (National Sprayer Testing Scheme) which annually tests over 16,000 crop sprayers to ensure responsible use of plant protection products.
- Greater adoption of soil testing, nutrient management plans, and technological advances to support soil health and nutrient use efficiency.
- Implementation of protective buffer zones along more water courses through countryside stewardship schemes.
Looking to the future
Richard Bramley outlined key actions needed to advance progress:
- Increased funding for on-farm infrastructure to improve manure storage and processing, and technology to optimise nutrient use and minimise waste.
- Supportive regulation focused on identifying areas for improvement and assisting farmers in addressing challenges.
- The industry welcomes the expansion of CSF to all areas, but it must be properly resourced to keep up with farmer demand.
Agricultures commitment to improvement
These talks highlight the industry's proactive engagement with water pollution issues.
By participating in such events, the sector demonstrates its commitment to sustainable farming practices and its crucial role in shaping the conversation around water pollution solutions.
The discussions underscored the need for continued advice, investment, and collaboration to achieve further improvements in water quality, all factors which the NFU believes can contribute to positive outcomes.
