Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Pursuant to WPQ 32085, answered on 19 October 2026, what alternatives to first-come, first-served allocation are being explored.

Defra is exploring alternatives to a first-come, first-served allocation process for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in 2027. No decisions have yet been announced. As part of the design of SFI27, we are considering future application arrangements alongside issues of fairness, accessibility and deliverability. Detailed scheme arrangements and timings will be published once design and delivery planning have been completed.