A growing population in the UK but we have to lose 10% of farmland.

I think in France there is, or certainly used to be, an organisation that was notified if a wealthy person came along wanting to buy up farmland for other purposes. This Société, (I can't remember the full title), can then decide to buy the property and land if, for example, the area has a shortage of farmers. Or because another local farm wants to expand. In the same way we bought a hamlet of properties and the prospective purchase had to be referred to the mayor and beyond for change of usage. Lots of rules and red tape to protect farmers.

I was reflecting on why we are trying to increase solar and wind power, which ultimately is trying to slow down climate change.
The O/P reasonably suggests we could lose some agricultural production if there are too many solar farms in the wrong places (ie the most agriculturally productive).

But what about the already recognised effects of climate change upon crop and cattle for farmers in the UK?

This was 2022

Climate change is significantly impacting UK farming, primarily through more extreme weather events like droughts, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves, which disrupt crop yields, damage soil quality, and affect livestock health, potentially leading to reduced food production and increased food insecurity in the UK; farmers are also facing challenges from changing pest patterns and reduced water availability due to altered precipitation patterns.

lordslibrary.parliament.uk/impact-of-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-on-food-security/

so hard to balance out the different priorities.

Thank you escaped for the French patterns.

escaped

I think in France there is, or certainly used to be, an organisation that was notified if a wealthy person came along wanting to buy up farmland for other purposes. This Société, (I can't remember the full title), can then decide to buy the property and land if, for example, the area has a shortage of farmers. Or because another local farm wants to expand. In the same way we bought a hamlet of properties and the prospective purchase had to be referred to the mayor and beyond for change of usage. Lots of rules and red tape to protect farmers.

It’s not just France many countries have restrictions of who can buy property not just residential, some are very restrictive who can buy land. The UK has few restrictions by comparison.

Wyllow3

Mamie, what's stopped the French having the same problem as we have here, of wealthy people buying up huge tracts of land for tax relief/investment or to get the grants on it, threatening food production? (except for the minority that are trying to get the best out of the land agriculture wise by large scale savings).

I don't know for sure Wyllow3, but France has a much smaller gap between rich and poor and is essentially socialist.I don't think you would get much tax relief or grants on buying up land. The inheritance system would also make it difficult. Though property in Paris is very expensive, it isn't elsewhere. Buying up property to make money is just not a thing here as many British found out after they tried it. So I can't really answer the question except to say that it is not the ethos of France.
I found this and can see why my farming friends hate their tax forms!
www.frenchbusinessadvice.com/general-information-on-agricultural-taxation/

PS it's called SAFER in France, if anyone wants to read up, (or put it in translator).
I don't know about other countries, but am reasonably clued up on France.
www.safer.fr/les-safer/quest-ce-quune-safer/