Sustainable Farming Scheme
As part of a lengthy post-Brexit process that is still ongoing, the Welsh Government is currently designing the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). This scheme is set to provide farmers with financial support while also incentivising them to deliver a number of ‘public goods’ such as higher animal health and welfare standards. The RSPCA believes incentivising farmers in this way will be good for farm animals, producers, farmers and consumers alike.
In Wales, there are approximately 10 million sheep, over 160,000 beef breeding herds, more than 250,000 dairy breeding herds and approximately 27,000 pigs - highlighting the seismic number of animals which a new pro-welfare scheme could help. Additionally, poultry stock in Wales also stands at around 7.7 million birds.
Previous polling for RSPCA Cymru has previously found that 80 percent of adults say that animal welfare standards are important in their purchasing decisions. Meanwhile, Eurobarometer surveys show that 62 per cent of the British public do not feel animal welfare receives adequate importance in UK food policy.
In 2023, the Welsh Government launched its latest consultation on the Sustainable Farming Scheme, where we renewed our calls for farmers who adhere to higher animal health and welfare standards to be incentivised and rewarded for their efforts. We have since received confirmation that the scheme will be rolled out in 2026, with its final details still to be decided upon.