Join Us for the LEAF President’s Event 2011

2nd November 2011

Ensuring world food security in light of changing demands and the impact of climate change may be some of the biggest challenges facing society this century. This year’s President’s Event, held at HSBC Tower, Canary Wharf, London on 2nd November 2011, will bring together leading academics, farmers and industry experts to talk about the efficient use of the world’s previous resources.

Keynote speaker, Professor Sir David Baulcombe of the University of Cambridge, will speak on the growing opportunity for plant genetics to address the challenges of sustainability. Other speakers include Allan Wilkinson, Head of Agriculture at HSBC Bank, Andrew Burgess, Director at Produce World, Chris Brown, Head of Ethical and Sustainable sourcing at Asda, Paul Dove, Technical Director at Molson Coors Brewing Company and the Rt Hon Michael Jack, Food and Agriculture Advisor to HSBC Bank.

We will also be launching the LEAF Water Management Tool at the event. A new resource to help farmers improve their water efficiency, reduce costs and improve their environmental performance. The Water Management Tool will complement LEAF’s current suite of practical, easy to use tools including the LEAF Audit and the LEAF Green Box.

The event is free to attend and includes lunch. For more details download the event programme here and to book your place, please contact Evelyn See by the 24th October.

The LEAF President’s Event is always one of our highlights and a great opportunity for our members to get together, share ideas, hear from speakers from across the industry and get involved in some lively discussions. We hope you will be able to join us.

LEAF Marque acknowledged by Government as the Environmental Food Production Standard of choice

The LEAF Marque has been recognised in Defra’s recently released plans for new standards of food procurement across all Government departments and agencies. The LEAF Marque is cited as a solution within the new standards as one of the ways the Government can meet its new sustainability targets.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), a membership organisation at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, has championed Integrated Farm Management (IFM) since 1991. IFM looks at the whole farm, enabling farmers from all sectors to achieve high productivity with low environmental impact and is the key principle behind the LEAF Marque. Farmers certified by the LEAF Marque, farm to the highest standards of environmental care. They take measures to save fuel, reduce energy use, manage water efficiently and enhance biodiversity. The fact that the Government has identified the LEAF Marque as the environmental food production standard of choice, enforces LEAF Marque as a clear way for farmers from all sectors to demonstrate their environmental credentials. Read the full press release here.

LEAF’s statement on the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA) research funded by Defra

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) welcomes the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA) funded by Defra. It shows that farmers who manage 75% of the land in the UK are vital in the delivery of more than just food and that the natural environment contributes to the economic and social prosperity of the countryside. Read our full statement on our blog

Farmers Get a Helping Hand to Improve Their Soil

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) in partnership with Asda today launched a new guide to help farmers improve the long term sustainability of their soil.

'Simply Sustainable Soils' is a practical, hands-on guide offering farmers six simple steps to improve the performance, health and long term sustainability of their land. Looking at soil texture, structure, drainage and compaction through to nutrients and biological health, the guide helps farmers to get the best out of their soil and monitor changes in soil health. Read the full press release

Sodexo Flies the LEAF Flag!

LEAF (Linking Farming And Environment) is delighted to announce that Sodexo, a leading provider of on-site service solutions, has joined LEAF as a corporate member, the first of its kind from the food and facilities management sector.

Michelle Hanson, Commercial Director, Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: "Sodexo is excited about becoming a corporate partner of LEAF, which has done a tremendous amount over the past two decades to advocate, demonstrate and audit sustainable agricultural practices. I believe that Sodexo and LEAF share the same values in terms of being committed to sustainability and a spirit of continual progress. Read the full press release

LEAF PRESIDENT’S EVENT 2010

Over 130 people attended including LEAF members, farmers and representatives from right across the food and farming industry. Mark Price, Managing Director of Waitrose, gave a great talk on the benefits of LEAF Marque - See the videos

LEAF Adds Value

A new independent report published on 16th November 2010, shows that LEAF membership offers clear, tangible and valuable benefits to farmers.

The study, commissioned by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) was carried out by CCRI (Countryside and Community Research Institute) and examined the wide range of services that members receive and their impacts on farm businesses.  Click here to read the press release, download the report and the summary.

The study identified three main areas where farmers benefit from LEAF membership: financial, environmental and social. Dr Janet Dwyer from CCRI who led the research says there are many ways in which farmers profit. “LEAF membership had enabled the farmers whom we interviewed to save money in several ways - such as by improving energy efficiency and reducing their use of chemicals and fertilisers, without compromising output. But the value of LEAF goes much further than the pure financial, with the majority of farmers also highlighting the social benefits and increased confidence that membership brings. Farmers also reported increased awareness of the environment on their farms, which in turn had helped them to improve biodiversity, soil structure and water quality."

Find where to buy LEAF Marque Produce

LEAF has a Supply Chain Directory where buyers can access who produces and who is selling LEAF Marque food.  The directory allows the user to search by crop, postcode or name and by business type such as packer processor or retailer.  To obtain access you first need a user account in myLEAF and then apply for access in Service upgrades.  For more information see Supply Chain Directory page

Accolade for LEAF Farmer!

Rob Kynaston has been named the winner of the RSPB Midlands Nature of Farming Award, recognising farmers who are ambassadors for wildlife in the farming community.

Producing great food with a passion for wildlife and the countryside has always been at the heart of Rob Kynaston’s approach to farming. “I am unashamedly a proud custodian of the countryside” explains Rob “for me, conservation and farming go hand in hand. It’s all about looking at the whole farm and taking an integrated approach, from the way we look after our soil, our rotations, fertiliser use through to managing specific areas of the farm for wildlife.”

Read the full story on LEAF's blog.

Dairy: A Green Future

Newsletter supplement now available!

We’ve been working with many partners in the dairy industry for a number of years and now, with discussions on where the industry will be in 2020. Amidst all the talk on milk prices and adding value we need to look to the future of dairy farming and it’s implications for sustainability. Download the full supplement.

Find out what can LEAF do for your business

– visit us on stand BM224 at the Dairy Event

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) have issued an open invitation to livestock farmers visiting the Dairy Event, to come and find out why LEAF is relevant to their business. On the LEAF stand (no BM224), there will be experts on hand to explain how LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management (IFM), can help farmers manage valuable resources such soil and water

Attitudes and Behaviours around Sustainable Food Purchasing

A  Defra report looking at attitudes and behaviours around sustainable food purchasing compares people’s attitudes to sustainability issues, their responses to questions about actively seeking to buy sustainable food and their actual food purchases over a twelve month period. Download the full report.

Findings from the 12-month Defra funded research project into food purchases show that:

• More than two thirds of people consider buying British produce important and almost three quarters look to buy British fruit and vegetables;
• More than three quarters of people think animal welfare is important but only two thirds seek out free range eggs and only half try to buy free range chicken;
• 70 per cent of people say buying sustainable fish is important but only 30 per cent say that they do so;
• Almost two thirds of people say that buying ethical products is important, and 30 per cent seek out Fairtrade tea and coffee; and
• The same number of people who think it’s important to buy healthy produce say they do so – 80 per cent of people.

This is why LEAF Marque is an important tool for farmers, the food chain and consumers in delivering more sustainable food.

Today, 4th April 2011, a partnership of agriculture industry organisations, including LEAF, launches its commitment to achieving a voluntary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Agricultural Industry is required to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year by the Carbon Budget period 2018-2022. LEAF is part of the partnership of organisations committed to working towards achieving this goal in a voluntary way without compromising production.

A reduction in GHG emissions can be effectively achieved through Integrated Farm Management (IFM). The LEAF management tools which help farmers implement IFM - the LEAF Audit, LEAF Marque and the LEAF Green Box - are key resources in the development of increasingly profitable, efficient and sustainable food production which will inherently help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information please see the press release  and the full GHG Action Plan document
 

LEAF Leads The Way

A new study out this week shows that an assurance scheme developed by a LEAF, an agricultural charity, is leading the way in the environmental labelling of food.

The research evaluated a number of schemes and compared how they help to protect the environment. It found that whilst LEAF Marque, run by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), scored the highest marks across a range of criteria, other better known schemes actually scored significantly less in some important areas.  Read the full report, the press release and the research update brief

LEAF Members Come Out on Top at Farmers Weekly Awards

LEAF members won two of the award categories at last night’s prestigious Farmers Weekly Awards.

Husband and wife team, Peter and Hilary Cochran, who run their farm shop business at Knowes in East Lothian, were named as Local Food Farmers of the Year. They were recognised for their passion for farming, their commitment to growing local food and the sense of community attached to their farm shop. More.

Andrew Rees scooped the Young Farmer of the Year Award. 31 year old Andrew successfully runs Gaulby Lodge Farm in Kings Norton, Leicestershire, in partnership with his father. His industry leadership, knowledge and enthusiasm helped him to stand out. More.

“On behalf of the LEAF team, we would like to congratulate Andrew, Peter and Hilary on their achievements” said LEAF Chief Executive, Caroline Drummond. They are excellent ambassadors for LEAF as well as the farming industry. Their commitment to running profitable farming businesses alongside environmental care and community involvement is exemplary.”

LEAF Marque: Helping caterers to realise the opportunities of the London 2012 Food Vision

Sustainability lies at the very heart of the Food Vision for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It calls for catering that delivers a tastier, healthier and greener Games. Companies tendering for catering contracts will need to demonstrate how specific benchmark standards and aspirational targets will be achieved and that they are building sustainability into their businesses. The LEAF Marque is one of the official aspirational standards for product sourcing and affords caterers the opportunity to meet many of the core objectives of the London 2012 Food Vision.  To source LEAF Marque produce see the Supply Chain Directory web page

Click here for the full press release