Journey to Net Zero
A groundbreaking report
by the
Royal Agricultural Society of England
The farm businesses of the future must optimise food production, farm profitability, the environment and people to achieve net zero. The RASE Farm of the Future initiative, which is delivered in partnership with Innovation for Agriculture, identifies and shares agricultural solutions, technologies and practices which can help farm businesses, people and wider communities to thrive.
The Journey to Net Zero report has set out a vision for how farm businesses in the UK could maintain their primary purpose of food production while responding to the climate and biodiversity crises.
0
69%
of farmers plan to improve soil health or carbon content
35%
35%
Explore the report
Journey to net zero
Journey to Net Zero report
Key messages
Each section of this report puts forward a vision of how farming across the UK might adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
Farming in the 2020’s: Time for change
Meaningful change needs to be underpinned by science-based targets, new technology, innovation and working alongside nature-based solutions.
The need for decarbonisation in farming
Successful transition requires a step change in knowledge and research turning ‘science into practice’, and targeted government support.
Reducing transport emissions in food production
British agriculture represents 8% of all transport GHG emissions, derived from on and off-road farm transport and other fossil fuel driven machinery.
Partnerships in carbon transition
After Brexit, the links and partnerships between farmers, processors, retailers and consumers have taken on a greater importance.
Farm and land management
Farms can be part of the solution by harnessing the power of photosynthesis to grow and build carbon in soils and recycling opportunities.
Carbon and soils
Much can be learned from studying soil. It is a bewilderingly complex ecosystem of millions of species and organisms.
Grassland and ruminants
Grasslands cover over 52 million kilometres, or 40.5%, of the total terrestrial area globally and are an important ecosystem and carbon sink.
Measuring farm carbon
While there are various tools, there are three main options available to all UK farmers and growers who are keen to start carbon footprinting.
Fertiliser and agrochemicals
Contributions of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and growth regulators are estimated to comprise about 3% of GHG emissions in arable cropping.
Nutrient recycling and management
The recovery of wastes, recycling of products, by-products and co-products to land provides an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of food production.
Carbon sequestration and microbial soil activity
Recycling carbon rich by-products of rural, urban and industrial activities back to soil presents an opportunity to mitigate climate change.
Biodiversity: A balance between farming & nature
Promoting a better balance between farming and Nature can only come when the evaluation of natural benefits can be quantified on an agreed basis.
Agricultural subsidy payments
Defra’s target is for at least 70% of farmers, covering at least 70% of farmland, to take up Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.
Decarbonising agricultural vehicles & fuels
If the rural economy is to play its part in the reduction of emissions, it needs to develop a pathway to replace diesel, with low and zero carbon fuels.
The net zero transition
It is essential to consider vehicle or infrastructure asset replacement cycles, given that many farm vehicles have working lives of 15 to 20 years.
Electric vehicle and gas fuel instrastructure costs
For a transition to succeed, accessible and reliable power supplies 24/7 will be a pre-requisite, either from the grid or from on-farm renewables.
Autonomous systems on farms
This section covers potential transformation of farming operations based on system such as controlled traffic farming, autonomous vehicles and robotics.
Automated field systems
Such techniques can increase yields by as much as 20%. However, most autonomous systems currently remain driver supervised.
Novel fuels and powertrains
The speed of replacement of fossil fuels on farms will be greatly enhanced by more on-farm working demonstration sites often managed by ‘early adopters’.
Introduction to farm decarbonisation
We identify the impact upon agri-food supply chains and suggest how changes to traditional farming can enhance carbon-saving.
Milk and dairy production
The wider environmental impacts of a complex supply chain should be addressed, as the majority of emissions are linked to milk production
Cereal production
The arable supply chain should reflect the need to reduce emissions, driven by expectations of environmental and social governance.
Horticulture production
There needs to be focus on produce that balances consumer need with reduced carbon emissions, less waste and increased efficiency.
Intensive meat production
Emissions KPIs can be adopted across pig, poultry and beef farming, to balance economic viability with social and environmental responsibility.
Potatoes
What marks potatoes out is the higher yield per hectare than other crops, which is a better picture of productivity and wider impacts.
Farm enterprises and novel crops
There are increasing opportunities for novel crops and more innovative supply systems to be set up on farms or at other locations.
Introduction
“A sustainable future for UK agriculture may only be achieved by balancing economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability through the adoption of new and existing management practices.
Sustainability is not a peak that can be conquered without further improvements, as the tools, technologies and systems that were sustainable in the past or present may not be so in future. For example, science relating to livestock health, welfare and environmental impacts has resulted in considerable changes to the ways that livestock are housed, fed, bred and managed over the past three decades.
A clear and immediate need exists, however, for the UK agriculture to demonstrate dedication to reducing negative environmental impacts, and to do so in an evidence-based manner that allows progress to be benchmarked and communicated. It is crucial to set appropriate targets, with greenhouse gas emissions being the most urgent area of focus.”
Prof. Judith Capper, Harper Adams University
Policy requirements
Farmers and rural businesses should be fully consulted on wider policy change. They must be fully engaged in developing solutions that optimise their ability deliver results on farms and addressing the following specific challenges:
- Soil and landscape – improved soil management is needed to reverse the damage of recent decades, with changed cultivation methods and nature-friendly systems. Delivery of public benefits includes increased carbon storage in soil or trees and curbing emissions from excessive fertiliser use/soil disturbance. Farmers, individually and in groups can enhance local water course protection. Economic valuation of natural capital will help deliver decarbonisation, restore soil health and increase biodiversity.
- Livestock husbandry – livestock farmers can reduce on-farm emissions and use locally produced low carbon fuels such as biomethane. Support is needed for practical innovations that curb emissions from dairy production, including methane-reducing additives in feed and improved soil management, learning from practices being adopted on arable farms. Policy on farm emissions must account for the impact of grazing livestock in sequestering carbon to soils.
- Land management – caring for land and nature while growing food profitably is a complex task. Future policy and regulation should be co-designed with farmers to be as user-friendly as possible. Farmers responsible for 75% of the UK’s landmass must be fully motivated and rewarded for efforts to transition to nature friendly systems. The UK’s countryside is a living entity, and it cannot be managed from desks in Whitehall. Change and innovation risks being stifled by excessive red tape unless farmers can input into policy, including on the delivery of public goods.
- Natural resources – rural transition means urgent improvement to UK soil and water quality, while boosting biodiversity. The priority for more rapid progress to rural decarbonisation is the need to correct damage to soil quality over many decades. Farmers need supportive policy to help them deliver improved soil management and biodiversity.
- Farm technology – the low carbon transition will require systems change and a technology shift, including novel fuels and vehicle designs, to curb emissions and end soil damage. Investment in robotics and digital technologies is needed to help drive change in farming methods.
- Transition advice – with many novel operations and technology options, farmers and land managers need access to sound, independent, cost-effective advice and information, plus on farm demonstration sites. In addition to research funding, changes must include farm level funding for professional advisors, farm clusters, and nature friendly farming groups to offer guidance on future support mechanisms and ‘systems change’.
- Food vs carbon – farmers will need help with mechanisms to increase production of food while being supported in efforts to reduce emissions. They can increase carbon capture in soils and trees. This must not involve the sacrifice of the best land from food production.
- Rural communities – there is a need to mobilise rural communities, particularly in remote and marginal areas, to allow them to play their part in the decarbonisation process. This must include access to extra funding for development of rural infrastructure to meet specific rural needs, especially in more isolated farming areas in Scotland and Wales.
- Consumer education – changing consumer expectations are reflected in purchasing choices (e.g. less and/or high-quality meat) and their views on waste and recycling. Better environmental labelling on food, including carbon impact, supported by standardised carbon accounting and farm benchmarking, is essential.
- Trade agreements – efforts to create new post Brexit trade agreements must not be done at the expense of farmers or rural communities. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of supply chains and risks of reliance on imported products, including food. Agreements must not threaten the supply of quality and sustainably produced foods from UK farms.
Agriculture faces a major challenge as it embraces decarbonisation. Farmers and land managers need the support not only of sector bodies and technology suppliers, but also the regulators and policy makers that shape how Government interacts with both farming and farmers.
Key messages
Each section of this report puts forward a vision of how farming across the UK might adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
Farming in the 2020’s: Time for change
Meaningful change needs to be underpinned by science-based targets, new technology, innovation and working alongside nature-based solutions.
The need for decarbonisation in farming
Successful transition requires a step change in knowledge and research turning ‘science into practice’, and targeted government support.
Reducing transport emissions in food production
British agriculture represents 8% of all transport GHG emissions, derived from on and off-road farm transport and other fossil fuel driven machinery.
Partnerships in carbon transition
After Brexit, the links and partnerships between farmers, processors, retailers and consumers have taken on a greater importance.
Farm and land management
Farms can be part of the solution by harnessing the power of photosynthesis to grow and build carbon in soils and recycling opportunities.
Carbon and soils
Much can be learned from studying soil. It is a bewilderingly complex ecosystem of millions of species and organisms.
Grassland and ruminants
Grasslands cover over 52 million kilometres, or 40.5%, of the total terrestrial area globally and are an important ecosystem and carbon sink.
Measuring farm carbon
While there are various tools, there are three main options available to all UK farmers and growers who are keen to start carbon footprinting.
Fertiliser and agrochemicals
Contributions of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and growth regulators are estimated to comprise about 3% of GHG emissions in arable cropping.
Nutrient recycling and management
The recovery of wastes, recycling of products, by-products and co-products to land provides an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of food production.
Carbon sequestration and microbial soil activity
Recycling carbon rich by-products of rural, urban and industrial activities back to soil presents an opportunity to mitigate climate change.
Biodiversity: A balance between farming & nature
Promoting a better balance between farming and Nature can only come when the evaluation of natural benefits can be quantified on an agreed basis.
Agricultural subsidy payments
Defra’s target is for at least 70% of farmers, covering at least 70% of farmland, to take up Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.
Decarbonising energy use and farm diversification
A low carbon economy requires reducing food production reliance on fossil fuels as much as possible, as well as reducing other GHG emissions.
The energy landscape
It is important for the farm business to understand where and how much energy is being used and where reductions can be made.
Rural energy housing challenges
Nearly 4 million, mainly rural homes aren’t connected to the gas grid. Getting these onto low carbon heating is better than switching connected homes.
Anaerobic digestion for heat, electricity & fuels
A process that converts organic matter into biogas and digestate, which is core to the UK’s electricity and gas grids.
Small scale on-farm biogas
With the UK’s commitment to net zero and with increasing energy prices, the moment has come for a reassessment of the role of small-scale on-farm biogas.
Low carbon heat technologies
Farms require heat for a range of purposes – grain and vegetable drying; produce chilling; controlled livestock environments.
Solar photovoltaics (PV)
Many farms have invested in solar photovoltaics on roofs as well as ground-mounted systems and are providing a return on investment.
Farm scale on-shore wind power
This technology will continue to play an important part in the UK’s renewable energy mix – and provide an additional source of farm income and opportunity for business and community investment
Energy storage technologies
Battery storage on farms may become even more important as the UK’s energy system decentralises and ‘Time of Use Tariffs’ become common.
Hydrogen
There is no ‘natural’ source of hydrogen, so it is produced in the UK most commonly by steam methane or auto thermal reforming.
Digital technologies
Innovation is enabling farms to adjust electricity requirements and advantage of on-farm generated and stored power or cheaper off-peak tariffs.
Financing farm decarbonisation
Farms can reduce emissions and costs in one fell swoop. Distributed renewable energy is a new asset class with attractive opportunities.
Decarbonising agricultural vehicles & fuels
If the rural economy is to play its part in the reduction of emissions, it needs to develop a pathway to replace diesel, with low and zero carbon fuels.
The net zero transition
It is essential to consider vehicle or infrastructure asset replacement cycles, given that many farm vehicles have working lives of 15 to 20 years.
Electric vehicle and gas fuel instrastructure costs
For a transition to succeed, accessible and reliable power supplies 24/7 will be a pre-requisite, either from the grid or from on-farm renewables.
Autonomous systems on farms
This section covers potential transformation of farming operations based on system such as controlled traffic farming, autonomous vehicles and robotics.
Automated field systems
Such techniques can increase yields by as much as 20%. However, most autonomous systems currently remain driver supervised.
Novel fuels and powertrains
The speed of replacement of fossil fuels on farms will be greatly enhanced by more on-farm working demonstration sites often managed by ‘early adopters’.
Introduction to farm decarbonisation
We identify the impact upon agri-food supply chains and suggest how changes to traditional farming can enhance carbon-saving.
Milk and dairy production
The wider environmental impacts of a complex supply chain should be addressed, as the majority of emissions are linked to milk production
Cereal production
The arable supply chain should reflect the need to reduce emissions, driven by expectations of environmental and social governance.
Horticulture production
There needs to be focus on produce that balances consumer need with reduced carbon emissions, less waste and increased efficiency.
Intensive meat production
Emissions KPIs can be adopted across pig, poultry and beef farming, to balance economic viability with social and environmental responsibility.
Potatoes
What marks potatoes out is the higher yield per hectare than other crops, which is a better picture of productivity and wider impacts.
Farm enterprises and novel crops
There are increasing opportunities for novel crops and more innovative supply systems to be set up on farms or at other locations.
Introduction
“A sustainable future for UK agriculture may only be achieved by balancing economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability through the adoption of new and existing management practices.
Sustainability is not a peak that can be conquered without further improvements, as the tools, technologies and systems that were sustainable in the past or present may not be so in future. For example, science relating to livestock health, welfare and environmental impacts has resulted in considerable changes to the ways that livestock are housed, fed, bred and managed over the past three decades.
A clear and immediate need exists, however, for the UK agriculture to demonstrate dedication to reducing negative environmental impacts, and to do so in an evidence-based manner that allows progress to be benchmarked and communicated. It is crucial to set appropriate targets, with greenhouse gas emissions being the most urgent area of focus.”
Prof. Judith Capper, Harper Adams University
Policy requirements
Farmers and rural businesses should be fully consulted on wider policy change. They must be fully engaged in developing solutions that optimise their ability deliver results on farms and addressing the following specific challenges:
- Soil and landscape – improved soil management is needed to reverse the damage of recent decades, with changed cultivation methods and nature-friendly systems. Delivery of public benefits includes increased carbon storage in soil or trees and curbing emissions from excessive fertiliser use/soil disturbance. Farmers, individually and in groups can enhance local water course protection. Economic valuation of natural capital will help deliver decarbonisation, restore soil health and increase biodiversity.
- Livestock husbandry – livestock farmers can reduce on-farm emissions and use locally produced low carbon fuels such as biomethane. Support is needed for practical innovations that curb emissions from dairy production, including methane-reducing additives in feed and improved soil management, learning from practices being adopted on arable farms. Policy on farm emissions must account for the impact of grazing livestock in sequestering carbon to soils.
- Land management – caring for land and nature while growing food profitably is a complex task. Future policy and regulation should be co-designed with farmers to be as user-friendly as possible. Farmers responsible for 75% of the UK’s landmass must be fully motivated and rewarded for efforts to transition to nature friendly systems. The UK’s countryside is a living entity, and it cannot be managed from desks in Whitehall. Change and innovation risks being stifled by excessive red tape unless farmers can input into policy, including on the delivery of public goods.
- Natural resources – rural transition means urgent improvement to UK soil and water quality, while boosting biodiversity. The priority for more rapid progress to rural decarbonisation is the need to correct damage to soil quality over many decades. Farmers need supportive policy to help them deliver improved soil management and biodiversity.
- Farm technology – the low carbon transition will require systems change and a technology shift, including novel fuels and vehicle designs, to curb emissions and end soil damage. Investment in robotics and digital technologies is needed to help drive change in farming methods.
- Transition advice – with many novel operations and technology options, farmers and land managers need access to sound, independent, cost-effective advice and information, plus on farm demonstration sites. In addition to research funding, changes must include farm level funding for professional advisors, farm clusters, and nature friendly farming groups to offer guidance on future support mechanisms and ‘systems change’.
- Food vs carbon – farmers will need help with mechanisms to increase production of food while being supported in efforts to reduce emissions. They can increase carbon capture in soils and trees. This must not involve the sacrifice of the best land from food production.
- Rural communities – there is a need to mobilise rural communities, particularly in remote and marginal areas, to allow them to play their part in the decarbonisation process. This must include access to extra funding for development of rural infrastructure to meet specific rural needs, especially in more isolated farming areas in Scotland and Wales.
- Consumer education – changing consumer expectations are reflected in purchasing choices (e.g. less and/or high-quality meat) and their views on waste and recycling. Better environmental labelling on food, including carbon impact, supported by standardised carbon accounting and farm benchmarking, is essential.
- Trade agreements – efforts to create new post Brexit trade agreements must not be done at the expense of farmers or rural communities. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of supply chains and risks of reliance on imported products, including food. Agreements must not threaten the supply of quality and sustainably produced foods from UK farms.
Agriculture faces a major challenge as it embraces decarbonisation. Farmers and land managers need the support not only of sector bodies and technology suppliers, but also the regulators and policy makers that shape how Government interacts with both farming and farmers.