Inspirational ideas: Increasing farm profitability while cutting carbon emissions, a toolkit developed by farmers for farmers

This inspirational idea is also available in a Slovak version. 

Translation courtesy of the National Rural Network Slovakia. Read more EIP-AGRI inspirational ideas in Slovak on the NRN website. 

Adam Twine is a farmer in the UK who is concerned about climate change. He shared his story at the recent EIP-AGRI seminar: “I discussed this issue with several other farmers, who were also convinced that we, as farmers, have a role to play in tackling climate change. We found that there was no farmer-led organisation to provide practical support for reducing farm greenhouse gas emissions. Nor a clear farmer-informed platform on the importance and urgency of tackling climate change.”

Creating a toolkit

So in 2009, Adam and several other farmers set up the Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit to allow farmers to exchange and develop knowledge and to encourage the awareness of climate change within the UK’s farming community. “We looked for information that could help us adapt or change the way we farm to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining, or even improving farm profitability” explained Adam. This non-profit organisation is run by farmers and it depends on a lot of voluntary support.

Setting up links between farms and research

The Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit website provides a wealth of information and practical tools, all free of charge. In addition, they organise on-farm meetings, where they invite researchers to help answer specific questions, such as why the results of the analyses of soil carbon content could vary so much, and how to obtain reliable results. “Getting researchers to meet with farmers, on a farm, has led to many valuable new insights, both for the farmers and for the researchers.” Adam stated.

Steps for action

The toolkit provides clear steps to help farmers decide which actions to take:

Measure and record: ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’ - the toolkit includes a user-friendly Farm Carbon Calculator which can help farmers to pinpoint where their farms are producing emissions, and where they are contributing to carbon storage and so reducing the amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide present in the air.

Improve the existing systems: The toolkit states: ‘Improving the efficiency of what you're already doing will be the most straightforward action. It will also deliver immediate financial benefits to your business and a reduction in GHG emissions.’

Making Changes: The toolkit provides a list of priority actions that are relevant and relatively straightforward, grouped under headings such as soil management, cropping, livestock, energy efficiency and energy generation, and buildings.

Stephen Goodwin - FCCT demo farmer, Northants, involved in the initiative said "It’s been a great opportunity to take a step back from the business and look at it through fresh eyes, to look at where we could tweak management to get better efficiencies, improve our environmental credentials and save money."

For more information:  www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk

Photo credits: www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk