Author: Clemmie Gleeson

Soya swap could cut agriculture’s carbon footprint

Revised figures reveal the full extent of the savings that would be made possible that increasing pulse production and displacing imported soya could bring.

Increasing production of pulse crops and reducing the amount of imported soya bean meal fed to livestock, could drastically reduce the UK’s agricultural carbon footprint, bringing a raft of other social and environmental benefits too.

New data presented at ‘From Soya to Sustainability’ in Peterborough on Wednesday 22^nd January showed 3.4Mt of CO2 equivalent could be saved which would cut the agricultural industry’s footprint by 7%.

The revised figures, from a study by Farm Carbon Toolkit, suggest the potential to cut carbon emissions through better use of home-grown pulses is more than 2.5 times previous estimates.

The reduction can be achieved by increasing pulse production to 20% of the current total cropped area and replacing 50% of the imported soya bean meal currently being fed to livestock, explained John McArthur, managing director of McArthur BDC. Showing what can be achieved by this shift are the twin aims of the NCS Project – a four-year, £5.9 million project funded by DEFRA’s Farming Futures R&D Fund.

“That saving is driven by four main factors – fuel use, synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use, both directly and indirectly, and swapping imported soya bean meal to UK pulses,” he said. 

The 17 partner organisations in the project had initially set out to show its twin aims would achieve a net target carbon reduction of 1.5Mt. But data processed since the project began in April 2023 have revealed the potential gains that can be made from a move away from imported soya to UK grown beans are far greater than previously estimated.

Philip Lymbery, Global CEO of Compassion in World Farming International spoke about the need for farmers to be part of the solution to climate change: “There needs to be a change, but don’t pile it on farmers and farming to find a way out and to fund it. We as a society need to get behind the farming community, to get behind the leaders that are bringing together the innovators, and make it happen. Enable them and bring public money forward.”

Gemma Hoskins, UK Director of Mighty Earth highlighted the link between imported soya and deforestation in Latin America. Estimates of deforestation and conversion-free soy volumes quoted by traders  like Cargill, use “maths jiggery pokery” with little publictransparency of the data used to calculate their claims, she said. EU deforestation legislation coming into force on 30^th December 2025 would cover a range of commodities and covered both illegal and legal deforestation, she said, whereas the delayed UK legislation fell short by only covering illegal deforestation

“To confirm if you have legal or illegal deforestation within your supply chain, you require farm-level traceability data from your soy exporters.”

Certification has been designed to signal market demand for deforestation-free soya, but traceability was an issue here too, she warned. “The credibility of certificates and the ability to drive a ‘clean supplier’ approach has been really limited within the soya supply sector.

“What we want to see now is farmers and the feed companies at the heart of this conversation and to empower them to put pressure on traders for deforestation and conversion-free soy.”

Read more: A route out of soya for livestock

Exploring solutions to food industry’s soya ‘addiction’ 

The UK food system’s ‘addiction’ to imported soybean meal is a major contributor to current carbon emissions and a threat to sustainability therefore urgent action is needed. 

Speakers at the From Soya to Sustainability conference in Peterborough on Wednesday 22^nd January will inform and inspire delegates from across the agricultural supply chain on the need for change, with a focus on solutions and collective action.

Headline speaker Philip Lymbery will emphasise the urgent need for change in our food systems. Philip is Global Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming and author of Sixty Harvests Left: How to Reach a Nature-Friendly Future.

Gemma Hoskins, UK Director for Mighty Earth will stress the importance of robust regulations if British businesses are to eradicate illegal deforestation in soy supply chains. Her recent report Foul Play linked Brazilian soy to UK animal feed, and with recent figures suggesting an increase in deforestation in Brazil, the need to address this has never been more pertinent. 

Hear from the experts

Other speakers include scientists and experts from the NCS Project (Nitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systems) who believe that reducing our food system’s dependency on imported soya lies in increased production and use of peas and beans. The line-up includes Pete Ianetta (The James Hutton Institute), Jos Houdjik (SRUC), John McArthur (McArthur BDC), Tom Allen-Stevens (British On-Farm Innovation Network) and Lee Truelove (First Milk). Agrii agronomist Todd Jex will share his expertise on the benefits of beans and his secrets to pulse crops that perform consistently well. James Webster-Rusk of The Andersons Centre will share outcomes from the NCS Project’s first Cost-Benefit Analysis, which scrutinises the impact of increased use and consumption of UK-grown pulses.

Delegates will also hear from ‘Pulse Pioneers’ – farmers involved in the project’s on-farm trials. Rob Waterston and Paul Barnes will share their experiences with growing pulses, with John Seed also discussing his success with removing soya from his poultry unit’s diet.  

Within the packed programme are ample networking opportunities for delegates to connect with like-minded experts from across the supply chain.

Roger Vickers of PGRO and lead of the NCS Project said: “We must have collective action if we are to tackle the problems associated with our industry’s dependency on imported soy. I urge anyone in the sector to make use of this opportunity to hear need for change, to future proof their businesses, contribute towards a more robust food system and ultimately a healthier planet.”

BASIS members can claim four CPD points for attending. To find out more and secure tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/FSTSconference 

From Fields to Forums – How online communities can help revolutionise agriculture 

By Sarah MacAfee, LEAF Technical Officer

In today’s dynamic agricultural landscape, the power of collaboration has never been more important. To tackle the imminent threat of climate change and drive the adoption of sustainable practices, farmers, researchers, agronomists, and policymakers can join forces in a new way: online communities.

Platforms such as The Farming Forum are hubs of innovation, where ideas are shared, challenges are solved, and the latest breakthroughs in agriculture are brought to light.

Online forums aren’t just digital spaces – they are ground for nurturing knowledge and cultivating a resilient farming community.

One standout example is PulsePEP, which forms part of the NCS project, which has sparked vital conversations around sustainable pulse cropping practices. These discussions reveal how innovative methods could help reduce agricultural emissions by up to 3.4 million tonnes of CO2e annually, steering the industry toward a more sustainable future, with the correct resources and research in place.

How your participation can help shape the future of farming:

1. Share your story and inspire others. Your experiences in farming are invaluable. By sharing successes, challenges, and lessons learned, you can breathe new life into online discussions. Your story might be the spark that inspires someone else to innovate on their own farm.

2. Collaborate to solve key challenges. From improving soil health to managing pests and optimising crop rotation, the hurdles facing farmers today are best tackled collectively. Online communities connect you with like-minded peers from across the globe; eager to share insights, brainstorm solutions, and join forces for a common cause.

3. Stay ahead of trends and policies. The sector is rapidly evolving, with new technologies and policies reshaping the industry. By staying active in forums, you’ll remain ahead of the curve and can learn how to integrate these into your own practices for better results.

Ready to get started? Here are some tips to maximise your impact:

• Dive deep into discussions. Explore threads on topics that matter most to you – whether it’s pulse cropping, pest control, or nitrogen-use strategies. Share your tips, ask questions, and engage with other members. The insights you gain will be transformative.
• Share local solutions. For instance, if pulse cropping has boosted soil health and cut emissions on your farm, sharing your experience could inspire others to follow suit and launch their own initiatives.
• Use visual storytelling. Pictures and videos can bring your farming journey to life. Whether it’s an image of healthier crops or a video of increased yield rates, visuals make your journey more compelling and easier to understand.
• Stay engaged and collaborative. Active participation is key. Contribute to discussions on emerging challenges and innovative techniques. By staying ahead of the trends, you’ll be well equipped to adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

Become a catalyst for change

The PulsePEP exemplifies the transformative potential of online forums. These platforms aren’t for just sharing of ideas – they’re launch pads for systemic change in agriculture. 

By fostering open dialogue and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, forums work to empower users to drive change across the industry.

Ready to join the revolution?

The future of agriculture is being shaped in online spaces like The Farming Forum. By collaborating, sharing, and learning together, we can grow a more sustainable and innovative farming community—one crop at a time.

Click here to join the conversation today! 

‘Collective action’ needed for UK grown pulses to replace soya

Quantifying the benefits of pulses for the arable grower is a major outcome of the NCS Project, which will be shared at the From Soya to Sustainability conference on January 22nd.

Now in its second year, the multi-partner project led by PGRO has recruited 18 ‘Pulse Pioneer’ farmers. They are each collecting data on pulse crops and subsequent cereal crops, to quantify the benefits to an arable unit’s carbon footprint, nitrogen use efficiency and bottom line. 

The arable session at From Soya to Sustainability in Peterborough on 22^nd January will outline the findings and observations so far, as well as researchers’ analysis of those results.

Tom Allen-Stevens is Founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) which coordinates the project’s farmer trials. He says: “Our Pulse Pioneers are beginning to deliver a really good picture of the contribution of home-grown pulses across arable rotations. For our trial farmers that will lead to huge savings in terms of their nutrition programme, and in particular, to nitrogen use efficiency.”

Tom runs a 170ha arable farm in Oxfordshire and launched BOFIN in September 2020 in recognition of the need for an organisation to represent and support the growing community of farmers wanting to be involved in leading innovations.

“The Pulse Pioneers are carbon footprinting their farms every year, so we will see the difference pulses are making to their carbon emissions. The project also explores the challenges of growing these crops and by pooling our experience and knowledge we are proving that great things happen when we work together. It’s vital now that we share those findings with other growers and the wider industry.”

With the increasing pressure for agriculture to improve its environmental credentials the conference couldn’t come at a more pertinent time, he continues. 

“By increasing UK production of pulses and reducing dependency on imported soya and soyabean meal, we can reduce our carbon emissions, while realising a raft of other benefits for livestock and arable farmers. 

“But success will require joint effort across the supply chain. I’m looking forward to the conference and the opportunity to discuss how we can take collective action.”

From Soya to Sustainability will be held at KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough on Wednesday 22^nd January. For more info and to book your ticket visit www.tinyurl.com/FSTSConference

Innovative livestock feed solutions take centre stage

The upcoming ‘From Soya to Sustainability’ conference on 22nd January 2025, in Peterborough, is poised to showcase groundbreaking advances on how British grown pulses can reduce our food system’s dependence on imported soybean meal.

Delegates will hear how substituting imported soy and soybean meal with homegrown pulses is a ‘triple win’ for livestock production, the arable sector and the environment.

Among the highlights of the conference is the work led by John McArthur, managing director of McArthur BDC, within the NCS Project. This part of the project focuses on innovative approached to the production, harvesting, processing and storage of pulses as livestock feed.

“We joined the NCS Project to create significant beneficial change for both farm businesses and the environment,” John explains. “Increasing the quantity of pulses being grown in this country and fed to our livestock will help the industry reduce its carbon footprint while also benefiting soil health and biodiversity.”

The conference will highlight not just the importance of making change, but the viability of British grown pulses as an alternative to soy and how everyone in the supply chain can take action. 

McArthur BDC designs, builds and maintains combinable crop drying, storage and processing systems for farmers and commercial operators across Great Britain and Ireland.  Its specific study on the nutrient value effects of dehulling and roasting faba beans using farm-based processing equipment promises to be a key talking point.

“Consumers are increasingly conscious about the environmental impact of their food. Reducing the environmental footprint of livestock products is essential, and animal feed is the logical place to start,” John emphasised.

From Soya to Sustainability offers a unique opportunity for retailers, food manufacturers and the livestock supply chain to engage with researchers and industry experts on how the benefits of homegrown pulses can be harnessed to reduce our food system’s dependence on soybean meal.

Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights into:

– Advanced crop processing techniques

– Sustainable feed solutions for livestock

– Reducing carbon footprints in agriculture and food production

– Improving farm profitability and resilience

John concludes: “We fully support the goal of this conference to drive change towards a more sustainable, resilient and secure food system. We want to help the supply chain understand how consumer demand for better livestock products can be achieved through innovative use of homegrown legumes and pulses.” 

Don’t miss this chance to be at the forefront of agricultural innovation and sustainability – book your ticket now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-soya-to-sustainability-tickets-1057857593539

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Climate impact of growing legumes within arable farming in the UK

By Tim Dart, Farm Carbon Toolkit

Introduction

Over the last few months at Farm Carbon Toolkit, we have seen an increase in the interest in understanding the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of adopting more regenerative farming practices.

As a result, we are starting to develop more information on this. One of the first areas we have worked on is the impact on emissions from adopting more regenerative farming practices within the arable sector.

What we did^[1]

The Farm Carbon Toolkit carried out an emissions modelling exercise based on a constructed baseline, which is considered realistic within a UK context. The baseline consisted of a 100 ha arable enterprise, following a conventional rotation and agronomic input, growing milling wheat, feed wheat and oilseed rape. Assumptions on inputs used were based on John Nix pocketbook, RB209 and input from agronomy experts.

The Farm Carbon Calculator (FCC) was used to calculate the likely emissions from the baseline model including inputs, land area and field operations carried out on contract. A range of regenerative scenarios were then applied to this baseline, to assess their impact on greenhouse gas emissions from the 100 Ha farmed area. The potential for carbon sequestration was not modelled as part of the exercise at this stage.

What we found out

The baseline model shows that the emissions associated with the arable rotation were 2.04 tCO2e/Ha/year and 0.352 tCO2e per tonne of crop per year. Figure 1 overleaf shows the breakdown of the emissions by category. From this, the dominant emission category arises from the application of fertilisers.

Of the emissions from fertilisers the vast majority, 96.4%, arises from the application of Ammonium Nitrate or Nitrogen fertilisers. Several adjustments to conventional growing practices were modelled by FCT, primarily focused on practices and combinations of practices which would result in reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. A total of seven options were modelled.

Options explored:

             B -Baseline

1. BRN -Reduced N application to all crops of 30 kg/Ha
2. BRN+ -Extreme N reduction to cereal crops of 75 kg/Ha & 30 kg to OSR.
3. FYr.NCC -5 year rotation including beans with N fixing cover crop
4. FYr.NCC.MT -5 year rotation including beans with N fixing cover crop + min til.
5. FYr.NCC -5 year rotation including beans with non N fixing cover crop.
6. FYr.CC.MT -5 year rotation including beans with non N fixing cover crop + min til
7. B.LF-RN+ -Baseline with Liquid N fertiliser with halved scope 1 emissions factors and extreme N fertiliser reduction as in 2) above .

The outcomes of the emissions modelling exercise per year are set out below:

The outcomes when looked at in terms of tCO2e emissions per ton of crop/year are shown below.

Application at scale

In the UK, legumes currently represent 5.3% of the UK’s cropping area (233,000 ha). If UK beans and pulses were increased from 5.3% cropping area to 20% (877,200 ha) i.e. one year in five as set out in the options shown above there could be a reduction of around 1,855,296t CO2e across the whole UK arable area (4.386 million has) which is equivalent to close to 4% of the total emissions from UK agriculture^[2].  Within this calculation it is assumed that all arable rotations are in line with the baseline scenario before adopting beans into the rotation. This is unlikely to be the case, so this reduction in emissions needs to be looked at within this context. 

Conclusion

The modelled results indicate that the adoption of regenerative growing practices can deliver reductions in anticipated greenhouse gas emissions and the greatest reduction of greenhouse gas emissions per ton of crop yield comes from a combination of including beans in rotation and pursuing regenerative cover cropping and tillage practices.

The introduction of a modelled five-year rotation including bean and an N fixing cover crop using min till cultivations reduces the overall GHG emissions by 33% compared to the baseline and results in a projected reduction of 24% GHG emissions per ton of crop.  The inclusion of beans and perhaps other legumes in the rotation can aid the reduction and reliance on N fertiliser and has a likely consequential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but there is an anticipated negative impact on overall crop yields. 

Alongside the anticipated reduction in the financial and environmental cost of crop production through reduced input costs, we ^[i]anticipate an increase in carbon sequestration due to improved soil health. However, changes in soil organic carbon have not formed part of the modelling exercise as the impact on soil health would depend on farm specific conditions such as soil type, management practices and weather. Nevertheless, this demonstrates the potential for even greater carbon reductions, with carbon sequestration augmenting the environmental benefit alongside the input emissions avoidance. 

^[1] Acknowledgement: with support from Finance Earth and the Soil Association 

^[2] Agriclimate Report 2023 – Defra

^[i]  A full  set of the  assumptions made are available from FCT

Proving Sustainability: Pulse-Based Farming Systems

Sustainability is the buzzword in today’s markets, whether in farming, business, or policymaking. Though, what does it really mean for you, asks Professor Pete Iannetta? 

Sustainability isn’t one-size-fits-all. 

The key question is: who or what benefits from these practices? To market a product or farming method as sustainable, solid evidence is essential. This means gathering reliable data to support claims about its advantages. However, the methods used to gather this data can sometimes miss the mark. For instance, tools like Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) focus on reducing environmental impacts but don’t always actually measure real-world improvements, such as cleaner water or better yields. Imagine if we had a “fitbit” for farming systems that measured actual benefits and trade-offs across the qualities of soil, water, air crops, and bank-balance?

Farm carbon calculators are starting to evolve toward this idea. They now often include measures for biodiversity, showing progress toward a more comprehensive view of sustainability. Still, these tools are only as good as the data we provide. On-the-ground evidence from real farms is crucial.

Here’s an important fact: the environmental and rotational benefits of pulse crops (like beans, lentils, and peas) are lost if they aren’t grown locally. While importing crops like soybeans has its place in global food security, relying too heavily on imports can reduce the incentives to grow pulses at home. This not only affects the environment but also misses the economic benefits pulses bring to UK farmers, and society more generally.

The data is clear: pulse-based crop rotations can maximise productivity while reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. New long-term research, using LCA methods, also highlights how including crops like faba beans can cut environmental impacts and increase yields of following non-legume crops.

Prof. Pietro (Pete) Iannetta is one of the expert speakers at the upcoming From Soya to Sustainability conference on 22^nd January, 2025. 

Pete is a Research Leader at the James Hutton Institute; and Senior Scientist at the Centro de Biotecnologia e Quimica Fina, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto (Portugal).  His research activities are focused on the multi-functionality of legumes due to their potential to simultaneously address the challenges of the ‘climate change-biodiversity-nutrition nexus’. 

The ‘considerable gains’ from growing pulses

Insights into the role of pulses in sustainable agriculture – and how to get the most from them – will be the focus for Agrii agronomist Todd Jex when he addresses delegates at From Soya to Sustainability.

The conference at the KingsGate Centre in Peterborough on January 22^nd will gather individuals and organisations from across the agri-food supply chain. Together they will explore innovative strategies for integrating beans and other pulses into livestock diets, which is crucial for decreasing dependency on imported soybean meal.

In his presentation, Todd will emphasise the significant benefits of incorporating beans into crop rotations. 

“If beans are treated with the same care as other crops in the rotation, the gains can be considerable,” he says. 

While they often receive less investment compared to higher-margin alternatives, Todd’s experience demonstrates their potential. He recently helped a client achieve bean yields of 8 t/ha.

Beyond marketable yield, bean crops contribute to improved soil health and biodiversity through their extensive root systems.

“A good bean crop flowers for longer and has more density, making it a highly valuable source of nectar for insects,” he explains. 

Beans can also aid in nitrogen carryover for subsequent crops and help combat grass weeds and soil-borne diseases. 

Despite challenges in pulse production, Todd remains optimistic about the future of beans. 

“The partners in the NCS Project are working hard to quantify the benefits of growing pulses and drive the market to help stabilise price fluctuations,” he says. “Many growers are finding success with beans, and I believe there is a strong future for pulses.”

As well as the inspiring line-up of speakers From Soya to Sustainability will also offer networking opportunities for delegates to connect with like-minded experts from across the supply chain. 

To learn more and secure tickets click HERE.