​​The Rural Economy Strategy (RES) is a five-year strategy. It is designed to grow the rural economy in line with the objectives of the States Strategic Plan, whilst safeguarding Jersey’s countryside, it's character and the environment. The RES recognises that economic sustainability of the rural sector depends on also providing positive environmental and social benefits.

The first RES was adopted as States policy in June 2005 and implemented on 1 January 2006 for a five year period ending 31 December 2010. In the RES 2005, a commitment was given to review the RES over the course of 2009, with the view to bringing forward a new strategy for 2011-2015.

The review process has included the production of both green and white papers for broad public consultation.  The review has helped ensure that the changing needs and requirements of the Island’s rural economy are reflected and accommodated in the new RES 2011-2015.

The consultation process has been very successfully supplemented by the Rural Economy Strategy Scrutiny sub-panel, chaired by the Deputy of Grouville, which presented its report to the States on 14 October 2010. The subsequent formal response from the Economic Development Minister agreed to all but one of the 36 recommendations contained within the report, the exception being a recommendation relating to Jersey’s relationship with the European Union, which was felt to be more appropriately placed with the Chief Minister’s Department.

The revised ‘Rural Economy Strategy 2011-2015: Sustaining and Growing the Rural Economy’ contains 55 policies which will be implemented during the next 5 years.