More than 20 environmental, animal‑welfare and farming groups have urged the government to halt the expansion of intensive poultry farming and to reshape the industry in the draft poultry sector growth plan.
Coalition pushes for a regenerative approach
The alliance, coordinated by River Action UK, sent a letter to Defra secretary Angela Eagle this week. It asked for an analysis of “the need for more poultry” and for a “regenerative poultry sector growth plan”.
According to the coalition, a revised plan could keep farms profitable while meeting legally binding goals for nature restoration, water‑quality improvement, air‑pollution reduction and long‑term food security.
The groups propose pasture‑based, agro‑ecological systems and a “focus on reintroducing livestock into primarily arable catchments to support a better national nutrient balance through mixed‑use farming”.
“Before the government endorses further growth, it must confront the environmental costs of the industry, uncertainty around existing poultry capacity, and the huge quantity of waste that will need to be dealt with when poultry litter incineration subsidies end,” said James Wallace, CEO of River Action. “There is a better way.”
The coalition also wants more representation on the Working Groups of the Farming and Food Partnership Board and a public consultation on the sector plan. It recommends catchment‑level limits to stop clustering of poultry units in areas already suffering nutrient pollution.
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Industry and officials weigh in
The British Poultry Council’s chief executive Richard Griffiths dismissed the letter as “NGOs failing to understand the resource need and impact of what they are asking for”. He noted that meeting the charities’ land‑use target would require an area three‑quarters the size of Birmingham, which he called “a step too far”.
Griffiths added, “The right question to ask is whether we want to take responsibility for our own food security, back our own high standards, and feed our people for the foreseeable future.”
A Defra spokesperson told The Grocer that the Poultry Sector Growth Plan is still being developed and that recommendations are under review. “We are improving farm productivity, increasing profitability, and strengthening the contribution of domestically produced food for the benefit of our national security, working with industry as part of the poultry sector growth plan,” the official said.
The spokesperson also said, “We are working closely with the poultry sector to ensure growth goes hand in hand with animal welfare and that the environmental impacts of production systems are always considered.”
Recent warnings from the National Audit Office highlighted a risk of a major food‑supply emergency if Defra does not encourage businesses, households and communities to strengthen resilience. Meanwhile, Ranjit Boparan, president of 2 Sisters, blamed rising costs, weak infrastructure and planning delays for holding the industry back.
The coalition’s final note summed up its stance: “We can support profitable poultry farming that works with nature, improves animal welfare, strengthens local food systems and helps restore our rivers.” The paperwork is a bit of a mess, frankly, but the groups say the message is clear.