Introducing realistic changes to farming practice can make a significant contribution to meeting UK farming’s ambitious goal of reaching net zero by 2040, a farm-based study has shown.

The results confirm that up to a 60% reduction in net emissions can be achieved by implementing some pragmatic management practices and focusing on the most productive areas of the farm, while maintaining yield and financial performance.

See also: How do three main farm carbon calculators compare?

Undertaken on behalf of Kellogg’s, through the company’s Origins programme, the study set out to assess the current carbon balance and to explore the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of introducing new practices.

Four different potential options were modelled on a 550ha heavy land arable farm in Bedfordshire.

The four scenarios (see below) were developed with grower Henry Northern and the results showed that it is possible to reduce emissions through all or any of them, reports Dave Freeman of Ricardo’s agricultural consultancy, who led the work.

The four scenarios were:

1. Altering nitrogen management – reducing applications by 25kg/ha across the farm
2. Expanding uncultivated margins (two options were included) – putting agri-environment options on marginal land; and bringing in two-year rotational grass/legume leys across whole fields
3. Introducing silvo pasture – distance planting of trees in grassland, using species such as cherry and walnut for high-specification markets
4. Increasing renewable energy generation – increasing the amount of photovoltaic solar panels and installing a biomass heating system.

While Mr Freeman acknowledges that the latter two options would require some upfront investment, all of them are being considered by Mr Northern as the farm takes steps towards achieving net zero and being more aware of its carbon responsibilities.

Henry Northern is committed to making changes to his fertiliser use strategy © J Northern & Sons

At the outset, a baseline assessment of the current situation at Priory Farm was done using the Cool Farm Tool, reflecting Kelloggs’ membership of the Cool Farm Alliance.

“The Cool Farm Tool is a product-based assessment tool as it is focused on the supply chain,” notes Mr Freeman. “So not all aspects of the farm could be assessed with it. Areas such as unmanaged woodland and hedgerows had to be done using other methods.”

The results confirmed that the farm was efficient – producing high yields and managing inputs well.

Baseline emission values were assessed and were broadly in line with expectations and matched benchmark values, confirms Mr Freeman.

“It was important to understand where the business was in terms of emissions before we could look at ways that might bring these down.”

Assessing the potential of the four new management practices was possible by using the Cool Farm Tool and making bespoke calculations, he continues.

“It has helped to identify opportunities. At the moment, the carbon calculators available are a bit behind the curve when it comes to doing net zero assessments and there is a need for new models.

“Not all aspects of farm management can currently be assessed and some subjects such as soil carbon accumulation still have significant uncertainty.”

Summing up, Mr Freeman points out that doing this assessment has identified opportunities for this farm and highlighted where net carbon emissions could be influenced by as much as 60%, although he stresses that every farm system is different.

“The scenarios that we used in this study all relate to action that Mr Northern could consider and were developed to have minimal or positive economic impacts on the business.”

As the Cool Farm Tool is product-based, additional calculations are needed to support a whole-farm assessment and further refinement is needed, he adds.

“It’s important to define the boundary of the assessment and know which enterprises and land areas are included. On this farm, other ways of reducing emissions could include changes to woodland and hedgerow management.”

He sounds a note of caution where woodland is concerned, as mature woodland has already reached equilibrium and doesn’t influence emissions without more active management or new planting of trees.

“Silvo pasture is different. As the trees get older, they capture more carbon – only hitting maturity after 60 years.”

His final point is that to hit net zero in a farming business, you have to be doing it every year. “That means reducing emissions and then continuing to do it.”