The National Farmers' Union's sugar board (NFU Sugar) is working with NFU Energy to engage with private environmental marketplaces such as the LENs (Landscape Enterprise Networks).
The partnership was unveiled at the union's national conference, where Fenland farmer and NFU Sugar chairman Michael Sly said this “hugely significant step” could offer a way for beet growers to be financially rewarded for environmental services and emissions savings which they can deliver on their farms.
The project began when chocolate and confectionery firm Nestlé approached NFU Sugar with an ambition to directly incentivise environmentally-friendly farming practices, the conference heard.
Matt Ryan, regeneration lead at Nestlé UK & Ireland, said the company sees LENs as "a vehicle to collaborate".
"Rather than having multiple projects with growers we see that the NFU could be a vital link between corporate agri-environment initiatives – maximising efficiency and reducing complexity, and paperwork, for growers," he said.
"We want to make this as simple as possible and have a coherent ask for growers rather than multiple businesses and projects."
Sugar beet harvesting in Norfolk (Image: Newsquest)
LENs brings private and public-sector organisations together around a "common interest in funding nature-based solutions", acting as a broker between buyers and groups of landowners.
“The point of LENs is that it’s the farmer’s choice and agency – if you can think of something that works for your farm we’re asking you to put that forward,” said Dan Sokell, managing director of LENS East of England.
Mr Sly said, for LENs to work for growers, it would need to be clear and understandable, and the offer must be flexible enough to coexist with food production and government payment schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
NFU Sugar adviser Sam Williamson said: "There is only so far we can go with options already on the table such as ELMs (Environmental Land Management scheme) and the SFI, but connecting with LENs can help growers deliver more, sooner within their own enterprises."
Mr Sly added: “I know that discussions around sustainability can often come across more stick than carrot for growers, but this project demonstrates that there is an incentive there.
“I hope that what we’ve spotlighted here offers reassurance that there are opportunities out there, like the LENs, to facilitate grower access to financial support from supply chain partners who are interested in improving the environmental footprint of the sugar they procure here in the UK.”
Chocolate firm cash could help sugar beet farmers hit environment targets
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23.02.2024
The National Farmers' Union's sugar board (NFU Sugar) is working with NFU Energy to engage with private environmental marketplaces such as the LENs (Landscape Enterprise Networks).
The partnership was unveiled at the union's national conference, where Fenland farmer and NFU Sugar chairman Michael Sly said this “hugely significant step” could offer a way for beet growers to be financially rewarded for environmental services and emissions savings which they can deliver on their farms.
The project began when chocolate and confectionery firm Nestlé approached NFU Sugar with an ambition to directly incentivise environmentally-friendly........
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