Carbon Footprint

Opportunities are increasing for farmers and land managers to earn revenues from storing carbon in soils or vegetation, or by reducing baseline GHG emissions from crop and livestock production.

Carbon farming is a type of agriculture that involves practices and techniques designed to increase the amount of carbon sequestered in the soil. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as planting cover crops, using organic fertilizers, reducing tillage, and using conservation tillage practices. Carbon farming has several potential benefits, including improved soil health, increased crop yields, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, carbon farming can help farmers meet the growing demand for sustainably-produced food. By sequestering carbon in the soil, farmers can help mitigate the effects of climate change and contribute to the development of a more sustainable agricultural system. Overall, carbon farming represents a promising approach to improving the environmental sustainability of agriculture.

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Great new article from Mike on 6 soil carbon schemes for farmers to consider - published 25/10/22 - https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/business-management/agricultural-transition/the-carbon-trading-conundrum-risk-or-revenue-generator

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Can anyone explain why the standard UK calculation adopted for estimating above ground carbon return from crop includes 'harvest index' and 'above ground residue retained after harvest'? Is harvest index always based on "grain" yield (thus for flax harvest index is given as 0.38 while above ground residue retained is 0.2 while for most crops the two are similar). This seems odd since the harvested component of the flax is the stem and root.

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Connected Content

In 2015, the UK pledged to be Net Zero by 2050, with the NFU striving for the more ambitious target of 2040. Net Zero is achieved when the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted is balanced with those removed from the atmosphere. This helps to combat climate change and reduce global warming.

Regenerative farming looks to optimise the use of the ecological system and environment, in order to benefit from the natural ecosystem services that they provide.

The number of tools and calculators available can be daunting. None are necessarily right or wrong, the appropriate tool for you depends on the question you are asking.

Carbon Metrics is a consultancy firm offering detailed analysis of agricultural carbon audits to help service sector businesses identify where on farm mitigation is both environmentally and commercially sustainable in order to help reduce the environmental impacts or greenhouse gases from farming enterprises

There is a lot of interest in soil carbon currently, due to the opportunity to store and sequester carbon in soil. It is also vital for soil health, forming part of soil organic matter.

Natural capital refers to the stock of natural resources and ecosystems that provide essential benefits and services to agriculture. In the context of farming, natural capital encompasses the fertile soil, clean water, biodiversity, pollinators, and healthy ecosystems that play a crucial role in sustaining crop and livestock production. These natural assets are the foundation of agricultural sustainability, productivity, and resilience.

Trusted software which elevates farmers to the heart to the food and farming ecosystem

Farm carbon calculator to lower emissions and increase productivity

Ahead of COP27 in Egypt, Countryside COP will once again be held in October to allow the rural community to come together and showcase the opportunities available and the contribution already being made to reach Net Zero. 

The Forestry Commission increases the value of woodlands to society and the environment.  It is a non-ministerial government department.

N2 Applied has developed a technology that enables local production of fertiliser using only livestock slurry, air and electricity, – dramatically reducing harmful emissions and improving yield at the same time. The technology adds nitrogen from the air into slurry, which increases the nitrogen content. The reaction prevents the loss of ammonia and eliminates methane emissions, making it a real solution helping to achieve climate target commitments on an industrial scale.

Report commissioned by WWF & Tesco launched at OFC 2022 on "

NFU published a report in 2019 outling how agriculture can be part of the solution and commiting

Lots of initiatives are measuring and reporting the carbon or greenhouse footprint of products or activities, including crops, livestock and food.

regenagri is an international regenerative agriculture program for securing the health of the land and the wealth of those who live on it.

Together, we’re creating plausible pathways, and practical, open science, to achieve Net Zero through the Agrifood system by 2050.

Providing accurate measurements that enable nature based solutions

ADAS Natural Solutions brings together various in-house services to deliver a bespoke solutions based on the requirements of your business. Whether you are looking to increase your biodiversity or achieve net zero, our dedicated team can work with you to create, restore and manage both natural and modified ecosystems. 

WWF

WWF supports lots of work on sustainable agriculture in a partnership with Tesco.

Farmers Weekly article by Mike Abram exploring four carbon calculators

Land of Plenty is WWF's blueprint for how the agriculture and land use sectors in the UK can help fight climate change and bring nature back to life.

Glossary of terms around Net Zero brought together with plain English definitions in a Farmers Weekly article supported by AHDB and Trinity AgTech  

Reducing your Carbon Footprint: Integrated approaches to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration

Webinar hosted by GWCT with David Powlson - watch the video below.

Report by Green Alliance for WWF & Tesco exploring carbon markets. Introdu

Report from RASE on getting to Net Zero.

Climate change threatens our ability to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. In 2016, 31 percent of global emissions originating from human activity came from agrifood systems.

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The business event showcasing low carbon practices, technology and energy solutions for a profitable & sustainable farming future.

An overview of the greenhouse gas costs of cropping, including an analysis of YEN data in lead up to establishing YEN Zero.  Also includes an analysis of the relationship between nitrogen fertiliser, GHG costs, yield, GHG intensity and potential indirect land use change (ILUC) consequences.  

Tilhill offers farmers a professional one-stop forestry service for woodland creation, management, selling woodland generated carbon units, and timber harvesting.

The next Low Carbon Agriculture Show will take place on the 7 - 8 February 2023 at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, to help farmers and landowners to rise to the challenge of producing more domestic, climate friendly food and energy.

Net zero is not just about emissions, it's also about balancing the amount of greenhouse gas released with the amount removed across your entire farm business.

We need more woodland for people to enjoy, for nature, to sustain our timber security and to help reduce the impact of climate change.

Healthy, well-managed soils support productive and healthy crops and pasture and allows for a profitable and resilient farming system.

Join this online broadcast with Sean Cameron to learn about soil preservation techniques, carbon capture in agriculture, leadership and more.

You are invited to join us for this winter meeting at David Fuller-Shapcotts Sweethope Farm.

Improving soils by building soil organic matter is a win, win situation for everyone.

Get your carbon questions answered as FarmED delve into the world of soil carbon, sequestration, net zero and carbon credits.

Soil carbon is a component of soil organic matter which derives from the deposition and incorporation of leaf litter, crop residues, plant material, dead roots and animal wastes. Approximately 58% of soil organic matter is carbon.

There are lots of reasons for farmers to be interested in carbon markets, especially given the changing agricultural policy and push towards net zero as well as other potential benefits.

For Assessing Nature Market Opportunities

We are delighted to be able to invite you to attend this Farm Walk to hear from the team at Lockerley Estate about how they are working to reduce farm-based emissions whilst storing more carbon into soils and non-crop biomass.

A day for farmers by farmers sharing experiences for improving performance and resilience in a challenging environment.  

The FarmPEAT Project EIP is a pilot project funded by the EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022.

The FarmPEAT Project EIP is a pilot project funded by the EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022. 

From HillsGreen webinar on 3/2/2022 - In current times, carbon has become a buzzword. I

AHDB Research Review No 94. 2020.  By Elizabeth Stockdale and Vera Eory This high-

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