New sector roadmap sets out practical route for beef and lamb environmental progress

The beef and lamb sector has today set out a shared, industry-led plan to improve environmental sustainability while maintaining productive, resilient and commercially viable farm businesses across England and Wales.

The Beef & Lamb Environmental Roadmap, developed by an industry-led steering group and facilitated by AHDB, gives farmers, advisers, processors, retailers, policymakers and wider industry partners a shared evidence base for action.

It focuses first on practical 'no regrets' measures that are technically robust, economically realistic and suitable for a wide range of beef and sheep systems.

These include improving animal health and productivity, optimising lifetime growth, strengthening genetics and breeding, improving forage quality and nutrition, building soil health, expanding grass–legume and multispecies swards and improving nitrogen efficiency.

The updated analysis separates beef into suckler beef and dairy beef systems, alongside sheep, creating three clearer pathways for action.

Under realistic adoption of the modelled cost-saving or cost-neutral measures, annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 1.9 Mt CO₂e by 2050, equivalent to 7.9% across the three sectors combined by 2050.

First phase of delivery

This is the roadmap's first phase of delivery, not the sector’s full mitigation potential. The modelling focuses on a defined set of practical measures and excludes additional-cost technologies, opportunities for carbon removals and many emerging technologies.

It also uses broadly stable production assumptions to allow the relative impact of different mitigation measures to be compared consistently.

Further progress will depend on the wider uptake of existing measures, continued innovation, supply chain decarbonisation, better evidence on sequestration and ongoing investment across the sector.

Andrew Loftus, beef farmer and Chair of the Beef & Lamb Environmental Roadmap Technical Steering Group, said:

"This roadmap is about practical steps farmers can take now without fear of regret. It recognises that beef and lamb must defend their reputation to retain their place in our diets.

"For most farms, the steps that reduce emissions are the same steps that support productivity, resilience and long-term profitability. The roadmap does not shy away from contentious issues, like the warming effect of methane, but focuses on actions that can make a difference now without fear of adverse consequences.

"This shared evidence base must be turned into coordinated delivery across the whole sector, as well as guiding future research and regulation to achieve better outcomes."

Chris Gooderham, AHDB Director of Environment, said:

"The Beef & Lamb Environmental Roadmap shows the progress already made by the sector and maps a route for further environmental improvements that are also economically beneficial. This is about providing guidance on what is achievable but then allowing farmers to choose the route that is right for them and their business.

"By focusing on practical improvements that support both environmental progress and business resilience, beef and lamb businesses can demonstrate leadership, maintain confidence and help shape their own future."

Action plan set out

The roadmap also highlights the need for better farm-level data, transparent reporting and stronger alignment across incentive schemes, advice and supply chain requirements.

Progress will rely on collaboration between producers, processors, levy bodies, advisers, researchers, government and wider supply chain partners.

The roadmap includes a 2026 to 2030 action plan, which sets out the next phase of work. In 2026, the sector will establish baselines for genetics, finishing age, health planning, soil condition, grass–legume adoption, nitrogen use and forage digestibility, before accelerating adoption and measuring impact through to 2030.

Organisations and individuals that have officially supported the roadmap include:

• ABP UK
• Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS)
• British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)
• Dunbia
• Meat Promotion Wales (HCC)
• Kepak
• The Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited (LAA)
• Myton Food Group
• National Beef Association (NBA)
• National Farmers Union (NFU)
• NFU Cymru
• National Sheep Association (NSA)
• OSI UK
• Pickstocks Telford Ltd
• Prof Jude Capper (Livestock Sustainability Consultancy)