The European Commissioner for Agriculture and the UK secretary for the environment both outlined their plans for the future of agricultural policy in their relative domains this week. Simplification and an increased focus on the environment were the common themes coming from both.

The European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, launched his proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 in Brussels on Wednesday. The CAP is reformed every six years and currently accounts for 38% of all EU budget expenditure.

Meanwhile, the UK government will publish an Agriculture Bill in 2018 and consult with the relevant stakeholders on that in the new year. It has also promised to match the support farmers currently receive from the CAP until the end of this parliament and set out the intention to “go on supporting farmers where the environmental benefits of that spending are clear”.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be working closely with our farmers to make sure we listen to what they want as we design a new approach and realise our vision for the future of UK food and farming outside the EU,” DEFRA secretary Michael Gove told the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA) annual Rural Business Conference this week. He said DEFRA will “make practical and pragmatic changes to existing farm support systems, streamlining the process to free up farmers to focus on what they do best”.

Gove also acknowledge measures set out in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, published this week, to work towards a food and drink sector deal.