Sustainable Farming and Food

The NW Sustainable Farming and Food Delivery Plan identifies that opportunities offered by agri-environment schemes are key if the potential role that farming plays in maintaining the rural environment, its landscape and important natural features is to be fully realised. Further, the Plan's stakeholder consultation found that the effective use of national initiatives would be essential for the Regional Plan to achieve its aims.
The application of the PBRS as a strategic planning and investment tool, principally for agri-environment and rural tourism interventions was assessed. Lancashire (as the region's rural pathfinder) was studied in relation to two key thematic areas: targeting agri-environment investment to areas of greatest need and opportunity, and assessing gaps in the rural tourism infrastructure in areas of existing and potential demand and need.
The principal aim of the study was to explore the uses of the PBRS model both as a monitoring and as a targeting tool for agri-environment and rural development interventions within rural areas. This may allow us to understand better where investment and intervention (in the natural environment and landscape) can potentially deliver the greatest range and depth of social, economic and environmental public benefits.