View source for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

{{Short description|Ministerial department of the UK Government}}

{{Distinguish|Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}{{Use British English|date=January 2015}} 
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
| native_name     = 
| type            = Department
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 250px
| logo_caption    = 
| seal            = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs logo.svg
| seal_width      = 250px
| seal_caption    = 
| formed          = {{start date and age|2001}}
| date1           = 
| date1_name      = 
| date2           = 
| date2_name      = 
| preceding1      = [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]]
| preceding2      = [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions|Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| jurisdiction    = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]
| headquarters    = 2 Marsham Street, London
| coordinates     = 
| employees       = 
| budget          = £2.2 billion (current) & £400 million (capital) for 2011-12<ref>{{cite book|title=Budget 2011|year=2011|publisher=HM Treasury|location=London|url=http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf|access-date=30 December 2011|page=48|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110801192353/http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf|archive-date=1 August 2011}}</ref>
| minister_type   = Secretary of State
| minister1_name  = [[Steve Reed (politician) |Steve Reed]] MP
| minister1_pfo   = [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
<!--| minister3_name  = [[Mark Spencer (British politician)|Mark Spencer]] MP
| minister3_pfo   = Minister of State
| minister4_name  = [[Rebecca Pow]] MP
| minister4_pfo   = Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
| minister5_name  = [[Trudy Harrison]] MP
| minister5_pfo   = Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
| minister6_name  = [[Richard Benyon|Lord Benyon]]
| minister6_pfo   = Minister of State-->
| chief1_name     = David Hill
| chief1_position = Interim Permanent Secretary
| chief2_name     = [[Nicholas Joicey|Nick Joicey]]
| chief2_position = Second Permanent Secretary and Group Chief Operating Officer
| parent_agency   = 
| child1_agency   = [[Animal and Plant Health Agency]]
| child2_agency   = [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
| child3_agency   = [[Rural Payments Agency]]
| child4_agency   = [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]
| website         = {{URL|https://gov.uk/defra}}
| footnotes       = 
| chief3_name     = 
| chief3_position = 
| chief4_name     = 
| chief4_position = 
| chief5_name     = 
| chief5_position = 
| chief6_name     = 
| chief6_position = 
| chief7_name     = 
| chief7_position = 
| chief8_name     = 
| chief8_position = 
| chief9_name     = 
| chief9_position = 
| parent_department = 
}}

The '''Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs''' ('''Defra''') is a [[Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom|ministerial department]] of the [[government of the United Kingdom]]. It is responsible for [[environmental quality|environmental]] protection, food production and standards, [[agriculture]], [[fisheries]] and rural communities in the entire United Kingdom. [[Memorandum of understanding|Concordats]] set out agreed frameworks for cooperation, between it and the [[Scottish Government]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/concord.htm|title=Devolution - Main Concordat between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Executive |website=Defra |date=11 November 1999 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318024838/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/concord.htm|archive-date=Mar 18, 2009 }}</ref> [[Welsh Government]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/walesconc.htm |title=Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales |website=Defra |date=24 October 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223060317/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/walesconc.htm |archive-date=23 February 2006  }}</ref> and [[Northern Ireland Executive]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/fishconc.htm |title=Devolution: Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries |website=Defra |date=11 November 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120045250/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/fishconc.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008  }}</ref> which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.

Defra also leads for the United Kingdom on agricultural, fisheries and environmental matters in international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]] was created on 3 October 2008 to take over the last responsibility; later transferred to the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] following [[Theresa May]]'s appointment as Prime Minister in July 2016.

==Creation==
The department was formed in June 2001, under the leadership of [[Margaret Beckett]], when the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] (MAFF) was merged with part of the [[DETR|Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions]] (DETR) and with a small part of the [[Home Office]].

It was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with [[2001 UK foot and mouth crisis|an outbreak]] of [[Foot and Mouth disease]]. The department had about 9,000 core personnel, {{As of|2008|alt=as of January 2008}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2007/chapter11.pdf |title=Defra departmental report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627110838/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2007/chapter11.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2008  }}</ref>

In October 2008, the climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), to create the [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]], then headed by [[Ed Miliband]].<ref name="Marrying energy demand and supply">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7651795.stm|title= Marrying energy demand and supply|last=Harrabin  |first=Roger |date=3 October 2008|work=BBC News|access-date=22 May 2009}}</ref>

==Ministers==
Defra ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold:<ref>{{OGL-attribution|{{cite web|title=Our ministers|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|access-date=14 October 2022}}}}</ref>

On 8 and 9 July 2024, the appointments of [[Daniel Zeichner]] as Minister of State<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/daniel-zeichner Daniel Zeichner MP]</ref> and [[Emma Hardy]] MP and <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/emma-hardy Emma Hardy MP]</ref> and [[Baroness Hayman of Ullock]]<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/baroness-hayman-of-ullock Baroness Hayman of Ullock]</ref> as Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State was announced, but initially without details of specific portfolios within Defra.

{| class=wikitable
! width=95px |Minister
! Portrait
! Office
! Portfolio
|-
| '''[[Steve Reed (politician)|Steve Reed]]''' {{small|MP}}
| [[File:Steve Reed Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (crop 3).jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
| Strategy and overall responsibility for departmental policy; water quality and security; food production and security; economic growth; international relations; senior appointments.
|-
|[[Daniel Zeichner]] {{small|MP}}
| [[File:Official portrait of Daniel Zeichner crop 2.jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| [[Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs]]
| Farming (including Environmental Land Management (ELMS)); food security; science and innovation (including agri-science); rural; fisheries; farmed animal welfare including bovine TB; trade; budget (deputy to Secretary of State); lead for [[Rural Payments Agency]], [[Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board]], [[Marine Management Organisation]], [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]] and [[Sea Fish Industry Authority]]
|-
|[[Mary Creagh]] {{small|MP}}
|[[File:Official portrait of Mary Creagh crop 2.jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature]]
| Circular economy; planning and land use framework; domestic biodiversity; tree planting and forestry; international nature and wildlife; environmental targets and EIP; Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme; green finance; Protected Landscapes (National Landscapes and National Parks); lead for [[Office for Environmental Protection]], [[Natural England]], [[Forestry Commission]], [[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]] and [[Kew Gardens]]
|-
|[[Emma Hardy]] {{small|MP}}
| [[File:Official portrait of Emma Hardy MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding]]
| Floods and emergencies; water; clean air and noise; environmental regulation (including chemicals, contaminated land and [[Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals]] (REACH)); pesticides; Net Zero, climate change and adaptation; domestic and international marine; lead for [[Environment Agency]] and [[Consumer Council for Water]]
|-
|[[Sue Hayman|Baroness Hayman]]
|[[File:Sue Hayman MP - official portrait 2017 (3-to-4 crop).jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords Minister)
|Biosecurity and plant health; borders; Northern Ireland – Windsor Framework; animal welfare; [[One Health]]; access (including rights of way and coastal paths); lead for [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]] and [[Animal and Plant Health Agency]]
|}

The interim [[Permanent Secretary]] is David Hill, who replaced [[Tamara Finkelstein]] in 2025.<ref>https://www.gov.uk/government/news/david-hill-appointed-as-interim-defra-permanent-secretary</ref>

==Responsibilities==
Defra is responsible for British Government policy in the following areas:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government-business/government-ministers-responsibilities.aspx |title=Cabinet Office List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010 |publisher=Cabinetoffice.gov.uk |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>
{{div col}}
* [[Adaptation to global warming]]
* [[Agriculture]]
* [[Air quality]]
* [[Veterinary medicine|Animal health]] and [[animal welfare]]
* [[Biodiversity]]
* [[Conservation movement|Conservation]]
* [[Chemical substance]]s and [[pesticide]]s
* [[Fisheries]]
* [[Flooding]]
* [[Food policy|Food]]
* [[Forestry]]
* [[Hunting]]
* [[canal|Inland waterways]]
* [[Land management]]
* [[sea|Marine]] policy
* [[National parks of England and Wales|National parks]]
* [[Noise]]
* [[Plant health]]
* [[Rural development]]
* [[Sustainable development]]
* Trade and the environment
* [[Waste management]]
* [[Water management]]
{{div col end}}
Some policies apply to [[England]] alone due to [[devolution]], while others are not devolved and therefore apply to the [[United Kingdom]] as a whole.

==Executive agencies==
The department's [[Executive Agency|executive agencies]] are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/416777/lmr100701.pdf |title=List of ministerial responsibilities (including Executive Agencies and Non-Ministerial Departments) |access-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>
* [[Animal and Plant Health Agency]] (formerly the [[Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency]], formed by a merger of [[Animal Health]] and the [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]],<ref>[http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/06/29/agencies-shake-up/ "DEFRA Agencies shake-up"], news release by Defra, 29 June 2010 (from the Defra website)</ref> and later parts of the [[Food and Environment Research Agency]]. Animal Health had launched on 2 April 2007 and was formerly the [[State Veterinary Service]])<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/News/070401-launch.htm "Launch of Animal Health"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422102037/http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/news/070401-launch.htm |date=22 April 2007 }}, news release by Animal Health, 2 April 2007 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]

==Key delivery partners==
The department's key delivery partners are:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2006/chapter6.pdf "Working with others: Defra's delivery partners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205181120/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2006/chapter6.pdf |date=5 February 2007 }}, Chapter 6, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board]]
* [[Consumer Council for Water]]
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Fera Science]] (formerly the [[Food and Environment Research Agency]], now a company in which Defra holds a 25% stake)
* [[Forestry Commission]] (a [[non-ministerial government department]] including [[Forest Enterprise]] and [[Forest Research]])
* [[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]
* [[Marine Management Organisation]] (launched on 1 April 2010, incorporates the former [[Marine and Fisheries Agency]])<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2010/marine-0401.htm "Marine Management Organisation established"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402223348/http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2010/marine-0401.htm |date=2 April 2010 }}, press release by Defra, 1 April 2010 (from the Defra website.</ref>
* [[National Forest (England)|National Forest Company]]
* [[Natural England]] (launched on 11 October 2006, formerly [[English Nature]] and elements of the [[Countryside Agency]] and the [[Rural Development Service]])<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/releases2006/111006.htm |title=New champion for the environment launches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610055322/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/releases2006/111006.htm |archive-date=10 June 2007 |website=Natural England |date=11 October 2006}}</ref>
* [[Office for Environmental Protection]]
* [[Ofwat]] (a [[non-ministerial government department]] formally known as the Water Services Regulation Authority)
* [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]]
* [[Sea Fish Industry Authority]]
A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/landscape/map/index.htm |title=Delivery Landscape Map |date= 20 April 2007 |website=Defra |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429072151/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/landscape/map/index.htm |archive-date=29 April 2007  }}</ref>

==Defra in England==
[[File:Countryside Stewardship Scheme sign - geograph.org.uk - 726323.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A Countryside Stewardship Scheme sign near a new stile a [[Cratfield, Suffolk]]]]
Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the regions by Defra's executive agencies and delivery bodies, in particular [[Natural England]], the [[Rural Payments Agency]], [[Animal Health]] and the [[Marine Management Organisation]].

Defra provides grant aid to the following flood and [[coastal erosion]] risk management [[operating authority|operating authorities]]:
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Internal drainage board]]s
* [[Local government in England|Local authorities]]

==Aim and strategic priorities==
Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations". The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra's mission as enabling a move toward what the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] (WWF) has called "one planet living".<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/pdf/milibandtopm-letter060711.pdf |title=My priorities for Defra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610001520/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/pdf/milibandtopm-letter060711.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2007 |first1=David |last1=Miliband |date=11 July 2006}}</ref>

Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/5year-strategy.pdf |title=Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra's Five Year Strategy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206002658/http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/5year-strategy.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2007 |at="Annex B" |date=December 2004 |publisher=Defra }}</ref>
* [[Climate change and energy]].
* [[Sustainable consumption]] and production, including responsibility for the [[National Waste Strategy]].
* Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
* Sustainable [[rural communities]].
* A sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.

Defra aims to [[government procurement|procure]] a significant proportion of the goods and services it requires from [[small and medium-sized enterprises]] (SMEs) in line with government policy on the SME agenda, and has also encouraged its major contractors to engage with SMEs.<ref>{{OGL-attribution|Cabinet Office, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c1c5de5274a1f5cc75da9/SME_Two_Year_On_Report.pdf Making Government business more accessible to SMEs: Two Years On], p. 23, published on 8 August 2013, accessed on 25 December 2024}}</ref>

Defra's headquarters are at 2, [[Marsham Street]], London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/defra-staff-set-for-marsham-street-move-as-leases-expire|title=Defra staff set for Marsham Street move as leases expire|date=24 June 2020|website=Civil Service World}}</ref> It is also located at Nobel House, 17, [[Smith Square]], London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://governmentbuildings.co.uk/properties/view/60246|title=London Nobel House DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS|website=governmentbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Agriculture in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Air Quality Expert Group]]
*[[Badger culling in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Cattle Health Initiative]]
* [[Department of Agriculture and Rural Development]] ([[Northern Ireland]])
* [[Energy policy in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Environmental contract]]
* [[List of atmospheric dispersion models]]
* [[National Bee Unit]]
* [[National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria]]
* [[New Technologies Demonstrator Programme]]
* [[Nicola Spence]]
* [[Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department]]
* [[UK Dispersion Modelling Bureau]]
* [[United Kingdom budget]]
* [[Waste Implementation Programme]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{YouTube channel|user= DefraUK}} YouTube channel


{{Defra (United Kingdom)}}
{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government|type=Ministerial|title=Environment, Food and Rural Affairs}}
{{Agriculture in the United Kingdom}}
{{Energy in the United Kingdom|govreg}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs}}
[[Category:Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial departments of the Government of the United Kingdom|Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
[[Category:Agricultural organisations based in England]]
[[Category:Environment ministries|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Environment of England]]
[[Category:Ministries established in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Forestry agencies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ministries of agriculture|United Kingdom]]