A pioneering environmental baselining pilot for agriculture is getting underway this month, with 170 farms from throughout Nice Britain participating.
The challenge, launched by AHDB, with assist from High quality Meat Scotland (QMS) goals to measure the optimistic environmental affect of the taking part farms.
Involving beef, lamb, dairy, pork, cereals and oilseeds producers farming on a variety of soil sorts and landscapes, the ultimate 170 signify the range inside British farming. AHDB is investing £2.5m within the pilot, whereas QMS is funding the meat, lamb and pork exercise in Scotland with an funding of £375,000.
One of many farms participating is Lincolnshire Pork Co, winner of the 2023 Nationwide Pig Awards Sustainable Farming Award.
Sam Ward, from the corporate, mentioned: “We utilized to be a baselining farm as a result of we’re eager to place an precise quantity on the quantity of carbon that our farm shops.
“Being a pig enterprise, we all know our emissions are more likely to be optimistic, however we’re on the journey to lowering our emissions and this baselining is a key a part of that. We hope to get in depth measurements about our farm’s carbon sink, and to determine a highway map going forwards of what extra we are able to do as a enterprise.”
Rob Meadley, a cereals and oilseeds grower from East Yorkshire, mentioned: “I actually needed to get a greater understanding of the place our farm is when it comes to environmental credentials.
“I hope sooner or later there can be a premium for meals produced in an environmentally sustainable manner for which we have to know the baseline to measure any enhancements. I actually wish to get a deal with on the figures behind what we’re doing and plan to do on the farm.”
Correct knowledge
Specialists Bluesky can be finishing up mild detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning utilizing a aircraft or drone which can be used to estimate above-ground carbon shares and supply run-off water maps.
Travis Mayne from Bluesky, mentioned: “LiDAR scanning gives detailed and correct terrain knowledge by measuring the peak of each the terrain and any above-ground options resembling hedges and timber.
“The vary and depth of the info is a novel facet of the Atmosphere Baselining Pilot, presenting the 170 farms with details about their land which can convey new insights into its environmental worth and affect.”
AHDB’s long-term imaginative and prescient is to create the chance for a nationwide standardised knowledge set throughout the meat and lamb, cereals and oilseeds, dairy and pork sectors, that brings integrity to the trade and permits extra correct reporting of emissions and the environmental affect of agriculture.
Chris Gooderham. AHDB Atmosphere Director, mentioned: “We’re happy to have confirmed the 170 farms, out of 500 that utilized to be a part of the challenge. The beginning of LiDAR measurements marks an necessary first step of the pilot in starting to grasp the environmental credential of the farms participating.”
Additional measurements to construct the environmental image of taking part farms will proceed in 2025 and can embody soil carbon and nutrient testing, and a carbon audit.
For extra info on the environmental baselining pilot, go to ahdb.org.uk/baselining.
