Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Sophie Wilesmith
In a time when UK farmers are under unprecedented financial, mental health, and economic pressure, Miscanthus offers a promising, resilient path forward. Recent reports from Farmers Weekly paint a bleak picture of modern arable farming, but it’s these challenges that make Miscanthus an increasingly compelling option.
The current landscape
A recent McCain Farmdex survey revealed that more than half of UK farmers (51%) have considered quitting in the past year. Many report feeling “pessimistic about the future of British farming” (74%) and point to escalating costs, regulatory burdens, and the stress on their mental health. Meanwhile, Baroness Minette Batters has warned that the true value of farming to the UK economy is undervalued, calling for greater recognition of the sector’s role in driving jobs, GDP, and sustainability. On top of that, input price inflation continues to bite, with arable farmers among the hardest hit, fertiliser, machinery, fuel, and electricity costs have all surged, according to AF Group’s latest Ag Inflation figures.
Taken together, these reports paint a worrying picture: traditional arable farming is under strain, and many farmers are looking for alternative, more stable routes.
Miscanthus offers an opportunity amid the strain
1. Low input, high resilience
Miscanthus is a perennial energy crop that requires low inputs compared to conventional arable crops. It demands no fertiliser, and once established, limited inputs and low annual maintenance costs. In an era of soaring input costs, this makes a huge difference.
2. Long-term income potential
Because Miscanthus is perennial and can be harvested for many years after establishment, it offers multi-year revenue streams. This stability can help buffer farmers against volatile commodity markets, a real lifeline when price volatility and uncertainty around future environmental schemes are pushing growers to the brink.
3. Environmental and policy alignment
Many farmers are already adopting sustainable practices: the Farmdex report found that 71% of respondents have introduced regenerative farming, reduced tillage, or precision farming. Miscanthus dovetails neatly with these practices, offering biodiversity benefits, soil carbon sequestration, and lower greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime. As policymakers push for greener farming and better valuation of agriculture’s environmental role, Miscanthus could become a flagship crop for that transition.
4. Economic recognition
Baroness Minette Batters’ call to rethink farming’s contribution to the economy is timely. If agriculture’s GDP value is recalculated to include not just food production, but also renewables, carbon capture, and ecosystem services, crops like Miscanthus will play a central role. By growing high-biomass crops, farmers could tap into not just the energy market, but also carbon markets or green finance schemes.
5. Mental health and wellbeing
Given the mental health toll on many farmers – 61% say their work affects their wellbeing, according to the Farmdex report – Miscanthus offers something more than financial stability. Diversifying into biomass can be part of a broader strategy to reduce stress: more predictable income, lower operational risk, and a crop aligned with long-term sustainability goals.
In the face of uncertainty, Miscanthus stands out as a crop that is not just viable, but visionary. By planting Miscanthus, growers can:
- Hedge against volatile input costs
- Generate new revenue streams
- Contribute to climate goals
- Strengthen the long-term economic resilience of their business
Policymakers should take note: supporting Miscanthus (through grants, incentives, or carbon/energy markets) aligns perfectly with calls from within the sector for ‘greater investment in regenerative agriculture’ and recognition of the full economic value of farming.
To support the cause, sign our petition directed at policymakers here.
