Rapid evidence assessment (REA) of flooding and coastal erosion on agricultural land and businesses
This report examines the impacts and effects of flooding and coastal erosion on agricultural land and businesses in England and Wales.
Documents
The final report, annex and summary report can be downloaded from .
Details
This rapid evidence assessment (REA) will inform analysis and policymaking for flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM), climate adaptation, farming and food system resilience in England and Wales. It focuses on the costs, benefits, and impacts of mitigation measures and aims to support FCERM, agricultural policy, land use, and climate adaptation strategies.
Conclusions
The evidence shows:
- flood impacts on farm businesses vary by attributes such as seasonality, duration, depth, and water quality (e.g., salinity, sediment load, contaminants), as well as by agricultural receptor characteristics, including land use type (crops, grass, agricultural land classification grade, livestock) and fixed assets at risk (soils, buildings, machinery, and infrastructure)
- coastal flooding presents additional challenges, particularly due to salinity, which can cause long-term damage to soil and crop production
- critical gaps remain in the evidence base, particularly regarding the long-term effects on agricultural supply chains and the local economy, especially in areas where farming and food are key industries
Recommendations
The review recommends:
- assessing the suitability of available data against Defra, Welsh Government, Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales purposes and priorities, particularly for rapid impact assessments following floods and long-term investment and operations planning
- prioritising further data collection on the main attributes of flooding (seasonality, duration, depth, water quality), agricultural receptor characteristics (land use, fixed assets), and the efficacy of mitigation and adaptation measures
- exploring spatial variations in flooding attributes and receptor characteristics, along with the validity of using agricultural land value for loss assessments and the role of insurance alongside government recovery expenditures
- using a staged approach to evidence refinement and decision support, beginning with applying existing methodologies, addressing knowledge gaps, and updating evidence and estimation methods
- collaborating with farmers and partner organisations, such as the National Farmers鈥� Union (NFU), which is critical to developing real-time reporting and asset valuation
- using case studies on natural flood management (NFM) implementation and rigorous assessments of measures, aligned with the Environmental Land Management framework and linked to new sources of financing for land-based environmental services
Project information
The research was conducted by WSP, Cranfield University, and Exeter University.
The project was funded by Defra, as part of the joint Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme.