Farmers and growers are one of the UK's most important assets in the movement towards a low-carbon society.
The soil and biomass on farm land can absorb vast quantities of carbon dioxide and, if managed correctly, this can be locked up for generations. Climate Friendly Food exists to help producers lower the carbon footprint of their farm businesses and sequester more carbon dioxide on the farm land.
Carbon calculator
Climate Friendly Food has developed the UK's most comprehensive tool for measuring the carbon footprint of your farm. You can't begin to reduce your carbon footprint until you first measure it. It is designed to be used by farmers and growers, and give as accurate a picture as possible of both the sources of carbon emissions, and the areas of carbon sequestration, in your farm business.
This will enable you to look at both specific parts of the farm, and the whole business to help lower your carbon footprint. Year on year, it will allow your business to monitor its carbon emissions and carbon sequestration, hopefully recording annual improvements.
This tool is designed for all farmers and growers using organic methods of production – whether certified or not, and is available free here. You are also welcome to download the calculator checklist available here.
Certification
To accompany the carbon calculator, Climate Friendly Food has launched the world's first low-carbon food certification scheme. Farmers and growers that are producing climate friendly food can apply for certification that enables them to be awarded according to the degree of carbon emissions from their business. Click here to read more about the certification process.
Bronze, silver or gold will be awarded on completion of the carbon calculator and a subsequent successful inspection. This award can be used on packaging to promote the carbon credentials of your produce to existing and potential customers. Click here to read more about the different award levels.
Low-carbon food
Besides certifying farms that are producing low-carbon food, Climate Friendly Food will be actively promoting low-carbon food to consumers in order to grow the market. We hope that a market-driven approach will not only help more producers come on board, it will allow consumers to reduce the carbon footprint of the food they buy by finding local low-carbon food producers.
We have developed a low-carbon food directory, that will list and map all Climate Friendly Food licensees, to ensure they get promoted to consumers. This is an equally useful tool for both producers and consumers.
Information
Climate Friendly Food encourages farmers and growers to share information and experiences, whilst learning from academic research and trials. We will provide briefing sheets to help spread information and techniques, disseminate research and encourage farmers and growers to share amongst each other.
Some information is available free here.
Training
As well as offering information, Climate Friendly Food will organise training events and courses. These will enable farmers and growers to learn from experts and peers in one-day events, and to hone their skills further through AQA-assessed academic qualifications. We hope to have information about training and events from May 2010.
Support our work
If you are able to support the on-going development of Climate Friendly Food, we would appreciate your support. Our plans for 2010 include:
Development of a consumer food footprint calculator
Version 3 of the carbon calculator, aimed at all farmers and growers in the UK
Disseminating the Climate Friendly Food model to countries across the world
All projects need your support. By giving what you can, you will help Climate Friendly Food spread low-carbon food and farming practice in the UK and around the world. Thank you.
[PayPal button]