£2.5m AHDB pilot project launches to showcase importance of on-farm environmental baselining

The pilot will individually baseline up to 170 farms across Great Britain, the board confirmed.   

AHDB is investing £2.5 million, with the long-term vision to create the opportunity for a nationwide standardised data set across the beef and lamb, cereals and oilseeds, dairy and pork sectors that brings integrity to the industry and enables more accurate reporting of emissions and the environmental impact of agriculture.   

In Scotland, the pilot will be a collaboration between AHDB and QMS, who are investing £375,000 to support participating beef, sheep and pig farmers.  

Demonstrating real environmental benefits

AHDB said that the pilot focuses on accurate measurements to reveal the net carbon position (the balance of emissions and carbon removals/stocks) of farm businesses, including carbon sequestration potential.

It will provide a dataset that shows the range and variety of results from individual farms, which will allow the industry to move away from relying on national and international averages.

By measuring greenhouse gas emissions, landscape and soil carbon stocks, water run-off, as well as using soil analysis of individual farms, the data collected will help to demonstrate the real environmental benefits of British agricultural products, both domestically and overseas.

It will also provide a more accurate reflection of its position and progress towards net zero.

Biggest challenge of a generation

AHDB explained that the pilot will allow the industry to demonstrate how it delivers a collection of 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.

AHDB chief executive Graham Wilkinson said that agriculture is now facing “the biggest challenge of a generation” in demonstrating the positive impact that farming systems can have on the environment.

“This is amplified by a lack of accurate, on-farm-level data. Our industry-first pilot will help change the story of British agriculture, which has been dominated by gross greenhouse gas emissions.

“We all know that agriculture has a critical role to play in achieving government targets, however, the picture is often more complex because of our role in not only producing greenhouse gases but our ability to store and sequester carbon across the whole farming system. 

“This project is not just about measuring carbon or soils, it is a transition to informed action. AHDB is bringing the industry together on this mission and has committed to investing significant levy funds to lead this baselining pilot,” he added.

Supporting the project

Mr Wilkinson added that AHDB’s ambition is that the baselining should be rolled out to every farm across the country.  

He continued: “We will be working with stakeholders and government to discuss how this could be supported by the industry in the long term. We are also seeking to work with existing systems suppliers and potential users, such as financial services, to see how we might co-operate to everyone’s benefit.  

“Through our discussions with stakeholders, we know we have a great deal of support for this project, but it also raises questions on environmental data, and who is best placed to act as a data custodian for agriculture.   

“We are in early discussions with the industry to develop proposals to protect farmers’ interests and provide solutions for how environmental data might be provided to those that want it where farmers agree to supply it.”  

AHDB and QMS are currently in the process of recruiting farms to join the pilot project. Find more information here.  

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