Understanding the constraints and opportunities for agricultural lowland peat 2026

This survey aims to identify the constraints and opportunities for agriculture operating with high water tables, referred to as paludiculture. We expect the survey to take 15-20 minutes to complete.

This survey complies with the Data Protection Act. The data collected does not include any personal or sensitive data. The findings will be used to help understand the knowledge gaps and needs of the sector. Integrated findings may be made publicly accessible through reports.

Niab are carrying out this survey on behalf of Defra and Natural England who would like to explore the views of those who could adopt high-water-table farming practices and/or use paludiculture crops within their production/ manufacturing processes.

At the end of the survey, there is an opportunity to provide contact details. If you choose to provide us with your e-mail address, we will only contact you with regard to the development of further information and support for paludiculture in England as part of the engagement activity associated with the Defra/Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund.

Please read the statements carefully and choose your answer, but don’t feel the need to dwell on it. We’re looking for your instinctive response.

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Background
A farmer’s main job is to produce good sustainable food.
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Taking care of the farmed environment in the best possible way should be part of what determines farm profitability.
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The greatest potential for paludiculture in the UK is for fibre and biomass crops.
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Some food crops can be grown with higher water tables but this would be less profitable.
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The crops and production systems aren’t important as long as they are sustainable and the farmer can make a profit.

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Getting paid for delivering environmental benefits should be an important income stream for farmers.
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System change is a long-term thing so farmers need to know that there is a secure long-term income.
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Issues for farming on lowland peat
The way lowland peat landscapes were at the beginning of the 21st century can’t be maintained for the next decade. We are coming close to a breaking point.
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Lowland peat soils are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and these emissions must be significantly reduced.
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Raising water tables to 10 cm below the surface in peat soils will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum.
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Raising water tables will mean there is no income to the farming business.
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The environment might benefit from higher water tables but UK food supply, especially vegetables will reduce significantly.
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The water level management infrastructure is already/currently in place to make paludiculture viable in lowland peat landscapes.
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Awareness of paludiculture as an opportunity
The fodder crops and associated grazing systems suitable for high water table systems are not well understood.
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Very few food crops can be grown with high water tables.
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Paludiculture crops provide an opportunity to capture new value streams and develop the bioeconomy.
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There are currently no markets for the crops that can be grown with higher water tables in England.
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If a crop can be grown in wetter conditions and also on dry mineral soils, then a premium should be paid for lower yielding crops grown in wet peat (to protect carbon)
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Energy crops might be suitable with higher water tables but they don’t provide the same income as the crops they replace. 
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Weed control will be a major challenge under high water table conditions.
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Reed canary grass is a viable paludiculture crop for producing bricks or pellets than can be used for biomass power stations. 
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The basic agronomy needed to grow sphagnum in the UK is well understood.
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The markets for UK-grown sphagnum products are well defined. 
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Consistent sphagnum products at sufficient volume can be delivered and this makes investment in processing capability worthwhile. 
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The basic agronomy needed to grow Typha (bullrush) in the UK is well understood. 
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The markets for UK-grown Typha products are well defined.
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Common reed has a large nutrient removal capacity and can reduce concentrations of phosphates and nitrates within soils and applied irrigation water.
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Thatching is the only possible market for common reed.
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Paludiculture products are well suited for use in anaerobic digestion.
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Implementation issues
Achieving the best possible outcome in each location depends on both the best advice and the skills of the farmer.
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Access and trafficability issues on wet soil are the major issues for production of paludiculture crops. 
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Successful transition to wetter farming will depend on a greater understanding and control of farm water supply. 
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There are few negative impacts of paludiculture crops on native species.
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It seems wrong to reduce the amount of land producing food now as the world’s population continues to grow.
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It’s only when the farm business is secure and profitable that farmers have the capacity to think about system change and innovation. 
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Paludiculture will have positive impacts on biodiversity if it is well-integrated at landscape scale. 
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Farming with higher water tables could be an important way to better manage water tables across the landscape and reduce flood risk.
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Measures that make farmers dependent on financial support are unlikely to have a big uptake. 
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Paludiculture crops will only be effective in practice where the price paid for the crop is accompanied by payments related to lower GHG emissions, biodiversity, and nutrient removal - or all of these.   
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Payment for lost income does not support innovation. 
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Context
I would describe myself as:
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Any additional comments:
If you would like to receive further information, please provide us with your Email address.
* Your contact details will not be linked together with your survey responses and will only be used to provide updates on the development of information and support for paludiculture in  England as part of the engagement activity associated with the Defra/Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund.
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