Driving change through accurate on-farm environmental data

Agriculture is facing the biggest challenge of a generation in demonstrating the positive impact farming systems can have on the environment. This is amplified by a lack of accurate, on-farm-level data.

To support the industry to tackle this issue, we have launched, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), our baselining pilot, which will collect a range of accurate on-farm environmental data. It aims to show:

• The environmental impact of agriculture in GB
• The scale and potential of natural carbon stocks and sequestration
• The industry’s progress towards net zero

The project will provide a starting point for tracking changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration over time and identify where there are opportunities to make improvements.

It will also allow the industry to demonstrate how it delivers a collection of critical public goods, benefiting all of society, such as improving water quality, reducing greenhouse gases, building carbon stocks, enhancing soil health and supporting biodiversity both above and below ground.

Farmers want to know their numbers

We had a great response to the launch, receiving 509 expressions of interest to take part in the project, with 322 having a cereals and oilseeds enterprise, 296 having beef cattle, 245 lamb, 149 dairy and 39 pork. It just goes to show the interest out there for farmers to gain in-depth knowledge about their environmental impact.

As we can only take 170 farms through to the next stage at this point, we are scrutinising the applications, interviewing farmers and getting additional information where needed. Then, by using data tools to ensure completely unbiased selection, we will identify the final 170 that represent the wide variation in British agriculture’s different production systems, soil types and land management styles.

We would also like the 170 farms to reflect the full spectrum of where individual farmers are on their environmental journey, demonstrating those who are well on their way right through to those just starting out.

Empowering farmers

The first stage of the on-farm work will start in November, and those selected will gain a full understanding of their individual farm’s environmental performance, obtaining unique knowledge and confidence to make impactful changes to safeguard their future.

The following activities will take place on farm:

• Aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning to assess above-ground carbon stocks in trees and hedges, as well as mapping run-off risk
• Assessment of soil carbon levels and soil health analysis
• Carbon audit and action plan

All the above will cover both cropped and non-cropped land, such as woodland, enabling us to test the counterfactual – what would happen if the land was not being farmed.

The environmental journey these farms will go on will provide a host of win-wins.

The good thing about storing more carbon in the soil and reducing emissions is that, in most cases, the result is improved soil health, reduced inputs and greater production efficiency.

Our aim is to explore and demonstrate the range of tools available to farmers, the win-wins, the win-losses and, ultimately, the scale of the potential improvements British agriculture can deliver with the right insight and support.

Benefiting the wider industry

The pilot is the starting point to measure any changes delivered by the farmers taking part. However, it will also provide a huge data set from which we will be able to draw some early observations. For example, the relevance of carbon stocks, the potential for increasing soil carbon storage and what impacts it.

Early on, we will also be able to gauge the relative capacity of above-ground and below-ground carbon, the impact of farming methods and land uses on emissions, carbon stocks, biodiversity, run-off risk and soil health. By measuring and analysing this data, it will help us understand the critical elements that could be rolled out across the rest of the industry.

We also want to see what else the technology can deliver. Pushing the boundaries to understand what is possible in terms of accurately measuring environmental metrics, particularly using remote monitoring from satellites, which could help with measuring more frequently and at a lower cost.

Rewriting the narrative

Ultimately, this project is more than just a pilot, it is a movement to redefine how farmers are recognised for delivering both food and environmental goods simultaneously.

It will demonstrate the true environmental impact of agriculture in Great Britain, the scale and potential of natural carbon stocks and sequestration and the industry’s progress towards net zero. It is facilitating a transition to more informed action and debate about British agriculture.