Climate Smart Farming
Capturing carbon and increasing biodiversity
Recognising that the industry needs to go further than simple land use change, we have progressed our Regenerative Agriculture department and relaunched it under our new ‘Climate Smart Farming’ initiative. Still focusing on practices which enrich soil, protect water and increase biodiversity, we encourage an agricultural system which mimics natural processes to combine food production with environmental stewardship. The Climate Smart Farming initiative will also emphasise the developments needed for future farm transport, providing guidance on practicality of application and cost:benefit ratios.
We will also focus on circular solutions for biowastes, clean energy, nutrients and future fuels – we will demonstrate how farming businesses can better use nutrients, move away from reliance on red diesel and generate clean energy.
IfA are working to encourage a farm system which not only improves the health and productivity of our farmland and wider ecosystems, but one where the benefits also include reduced costs through less cultivations, minimal chemical control and precision technology applications.
The IfA Climate Smart team will:
-
Provide and facilitate training and mentoring, whilst communicating best practices and pointers for success.
-
Highlight the barriers to change and the challenges that may be faced when implementing such changes.
-
Focus on ways for farmers to make such changes profitably, regenerating and healing the land, and ensuring businesses are economically sustainable and viable for the long term.
