Farming matters to people and sparks positive associations

The document finds that farming is highly valued in Britain as a crucial part of national identity and food security, with the public viewing farmers as being on the frontline of climate change impacts. It argues that climate policies must be developed in collaboration with farmers to avoid being perceived as punitive, as protecting the food supply and supporting farmers is a top priority for government climate action across all demographic groups.

• Farming is viewed positively by the British public, with 72% believing its purpose is to feed the nation and many associating it with nature, animals, and a vital rural way of life.
• Protecting the food supply and supporting British farmers is identified as a top priority for government climate change policy across all regions, age groups, and segments.
• The public perceives farmers as significantly more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than other societal groups, a sentiment particularly strong in Scotland and Wales.
• Unpredictable weather is identified as the primary reason farming will become more difficult in the UK, with similar levels of concern across England (36%), Scotland (38%), and Wales (39%).
• There is public resistance to climate policies perceived as punitive toward farmers, such as cutting subsidies for those unwilling to transition to sustainable practices, a view held by 26% of respondents overall and higher in Wales (31%) and Scotland (29%).

APA

Climate Outreach (2026). Farming matters to people and sparks positive associations. https://climateoutreach.org/btc/2025/report/farming/

Chicago

Climate Outreach. Farming matters to people and sparks positive associations. 2026. https://climateoutreach.org/btc/2025/report/farming/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Outreach |title=Farming matters to people and sparks positive associations |date=16 January 2026 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/btc/2025/report/farming/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateoutreach2026farming, author = {{Climate Outreach}}, title = {{Farming matters to people and sparks positive associations}}, institution = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/btc/2025/report/farming/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }