LEAF to establish first net zero demonstration farms

Supported by the Co-op Foundation, through the Co-op Foundation’s Carbon Innovation Fund, the three-year project will see the selected farmers develop and implement a range of sustainable, integrated farming practices suited to their own farms, focusing on soil, water, air and nature to gain a better understanding of the levers for change for addressing net zero and environmental enhancement.

They will receive an ongoing programme of training, mentoring and technical support from an external consultant and LEAF, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The farmers will also be working towards joining the LEAF Network as its first Net Zero Demonstration Farms to act as hubs for training and inspiration for other farmers as they begin their transition to net zero.

The farms on the project include a tenanted dairy farm in Devon, a mixed organic farm on the Scottish borders, a traditional Cumbrian upland family farm and a large commercial vegetable producer farming land from Norfolk to Inverness. Also joining the team is a family run business in Northern Limpopo, South Africa which aims to become LEAF’s first international Demonstration Farm.

“With ambitious industry goals to reach net zero by 2040, this ground-breaking project will support these forward-thinking and innovative farmers with the tools, training, and technical know-how to work towards these targets, collaborating and learning from each other," explained Vicky Robinson, LEAF Technical Director.

"Moreover, this project provides the five farmers with the opportunity to showcase how their Integrated Farm Management practices align with more sustainable and regenerative farming and crucially, they will act as important hubs for knowledge exchange and development as they go on to become our first net-zero Demonstration Farms.

“We are hugely grateful for the support of the Co-op Foundation which will enable us to drive forward more climate positive farming and food systems for the future health of our planet.”

Coop Net Zero project farmers

• Rachel and Richard Risdon, Woodrow Barton, Devon: Based in Devon, Rachel and Richard are tenant farmers on a 151-hectare dairy farm. Spring calving a herd of 300 Friesian cross Jersey cattle and operating on a grass-based system, which is rotationally grazed, Rachel (who is also a practicing vet) and Richard are an innovative couple, bringing their experiences of farming both in the UK and New Zealand, to shape their practices today. They wish to understand more about their carbon footprint, how to protect their water courses and encourage more biodiversity on-farm.
• R Mitchell ans Sons, Whitriggs Farm, Scottish Borders: Located in the Scottish borders, Stuart Mitchell, along with his wife Kate and his parents, farm a 442-hectare mixed organic farm comprising a herd of 140 suckler cows, with 330 breeding red deer and 50 hectares of arable. Already incorporating low-intensity practices and embracing new changes on farm, Stuart and his family are keen to find the right balance of productivity and understand more about their organic system, on the route to net zero and beyond.
• Bob Clark, Stone Ends Farm, Cumbria: Bob farms on his traditional family 32-hectare upland unit in Cumbria and is already a LEAF member. He runs a pure-bred flock of 200 Herdwick ewes, plus a flock of draft ewes crossed with Texel and Cheviot tups, graze both common and seasonal land, along with bought in young beef cattle for finishing which complement the sheep grazing. With his passion for nature and the countryside, Bob wants to continue incorporating more climate positive farming practices into his farming system. In addition, the lowland areas of the farm consist of peatland and Bob hopes to investigate peatland restoration and find out more about what this means for net zero.
• Stephen Shields, Technical Director at Huntapac, Lancashire: A family-owned business in its fourth generation, Huntapac farm 1300 hectares of primarily carrots and parsnips on land extending from Norfolk to Inverness. As a pioneering commercial producer, Huntapac are fully engaged in reducing their carbon footprint, from the first stages of production in the field, to packaging and distribution. They are committed to reaching their net zero targets and have developed their own net zero field trials, which will be an important focus of the project. Understanding and maintaining commercial viability whilst transitioning to net zero is a key objective of the business.

• Alan, Graeme and Valerie Whyte, Springfields Farm, Northern Limpopo, South Africa: Situated in Northern Limpopo, South Africa, Springfield Farms is a family run business, comprising 2000 hectares of avocados, Macadamia nuts, pecans, timber, and woodland. The Whyte family are passionate about environmentally friendly farming and have introduced a range of measures on farm to conserve and protect local wildlife and vegetation, with a particular focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). As a pro-active business, the Whyte’s want to make every effort to change their farming system and be a pioneer in their journey towards net zero, in a country with limited sustainable incentives and infrastructure.

Throughout the project, the participating farmers will be sharing their journey through on-farm events, training, workshops, and social media.

“From small family farms to large commercial operations, our selected farmers represent a variety of enterprises and experiences, all with their own ideas, motivations, and innovations. What unites them all is that they are all working towards the same net zero goals, and we will support our farmers with the management tools, training, and advice to help achieve these goals,” said LEAF Technical Officer, Pilar Pampin.

“This important project will unlock the journey to net zero with our five spotlight farms at the forefront of inspiring change. We cannot wait to get started.”