Pioneering environmental baselining pilot gets underway

The first measurements of a pioneering environmental baselining pilot for agriculture start this month, with 170 farms from across England, Scotland and Wales chosen to take part.

The project, which aims to measure the environmental impact of farms across Great Britain, is being led by AHDB, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Specialists Bluesky will be carrying out LiDAR scanning using a plane or drone which will be used to estimate above-ground carbon stocks and provide run-off water maps.

Travis Mayne from Bluesky, said:

"LiDAR scanning provides detailed and accurate terrain data by measuring the height of both the terrain and any above-ground features such as hedges and trees.

"The range and depth of the data is a unique aspect of the Environment Baselining Pilot, presenting the 170 farms with information about their land which will bring new insights into its environmental value and impact."

Involving beef, lamb, dairy, pork, cereals and oilseeds producers farming on a wide range of soil types and landscapes, the final 170 represent the diversity within British farming.

AHDB is investing £2.5m in the pilot and QMS is funding the beef, lamb and pork activity in Scotland, with an investment of £375,000.

Sam Ward from Lincolnshire Pork Co said:

"We applied to be a baselining farm because we are keen to put an actual number on the amount of carbon that our farm stores.

"Being a pig business, we know our emissions are likely to be positive, but we are on the journey to reducing our emissions and this baselining is a key part of that.

"We hope to get in-depth measurements about our farm’s carbon sink, and to identify a road map going forwards of what more we can do as a business."

Rob Meadley, a cereals and oilseeds grower from East Yorkshire, said:

"I really wanted to get a better understanding of where our farm is in terms of environmental credentials. I hope in the future there will be a premium for food produced in an environmentally sustainable way for which we need to know the baseline to measure any improvements.

"I really want to get a handle on the figures behind what we are doing and plan to do on the farm. 

"I want to help make the farm more sustainable for the future in terms of crop production, the environment and profitability. I can measure crops and finances; I hope the pilot will help me measure the environment."

AHDB’s long-term vision is to create the opportunity for a nationwide standardised data set across the beef and lamb, cereals and oilseeds, dairy and pork sectors, which brings integrity to the industry and enables more accurate reporting of emissions and the environmental impact of agriculture.

Chris Gooderham, AHDB Environment Director, said:

"We are pleased to have confirmed the 170 farms, out of 500 that applied to be part of the project. The start of LiDAR measurements marks an important first step of the pilot in beginning to understand the environmental credential of the farms taking part."

Further measurements to build the environmental picture of participating farms will continue in 2025 and will include soil carbon and nutrient testing, and a carbon audit.