A pioneering environmental baselining pilot that is looking to measure the positive environmental impact of the 170 participating farms across Great Britain is getting underway this month.
The project has been launched by AHDB, which is investing £2.5m in it, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) which is funding the beef, lamb and pork activity in Scotland with an investment of £375,000.
It involves beef, lamb, dairy, pork, cereals and oilseeds producers on a wide range of soil types and landscapes, reflecting the diversity within British farming.
Specialists Bluesky will be carrying out light detection and ranging (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.”
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.
Reducing emissions
One of the farms taking part is Lincolnshire Pork Co, winner of the 2023 National Pig Awards Sustainable Farming Award.
Sam Ward, from the company and a member of the NPA’s Pig Industry Group, 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.”
AHDB’s long-term vision is to help create a nationwide standardised data set across the farming sectors that brings integrity to the industry and enables more accurate reporting of emissions and the environmental impact of agriculture.
Chris Gooderham, AHDB environment director, said: “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.”
For more information on the environmental baselining pilot, visit ahdb.org.uk/baselining.