Supporting Farmers to Reduce Emissions Resources

Supporting Farmers resource memes - 8

New resource January 2025
Climate Solution: Supporting Farmers to Reduce Emissions

Why Address Farmland Emissions?

Agricultural land is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, although it also has potential to be a carbon sink.

The third main recommendation of our Church Land and the Climate Crisis report is that churches and Christian landowners need to support farmers to reduce emissions. We all have a contribution to make in reducing food waste and eating more plant-rich meals. Church landowners also have a role in supporting their farming tenants to transition to sustainable, nature-friendly farming. Agricultural land released over 11% of the UK’s total emissions in 2022, but some inspiring farms are already operating at below net zero, sequestering more emissions than they release.

Reducing emissions, chemical fertilisers and pesticide use all have co-benefits for nature, and other farming practices actively support pollinators and biodiversity. We all need sustainable sources of healthy food and water, and good farming practices also have other benefits in terms of protecting rivers and flood and drought management.

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The largest church owner of agricultural land in the UK is the Church of England Church Commissioners. They own 82,000 acres of agricultural land which is let to tenants. The Commissioners discussed their agricultural land in a 2023 document called Our Approach to Sustainability and have also published some ‘good practice’ agricultural case studies as part of their In Conversation with series.

However, more needs to be done at pace to enable and encourage tenant farmers to manage their land for nature and carbon sequestration. As a major agricultural landlord, the Church of England must also ensure that its peatland is restored so that it stops emitting carbon, and that its farmers are supported to bring in long-term sustainability measures. 

Some Church of England dioceses also own significant amounts of agricultural land within their Glebe land portfolios. Additionally, we know that the Church in Wales and the Church of Scotland also own some agricultural land alongside a number of other Christian organisations in the UK, such as religious orders and retreat centres, which also own or manage land including agricultural holdings.

Read about regenerative farming at Blaston Farm, Leicestershire where measured improvements in soil carbon sequestration are allowing them to sell credits to companies including Mercedes F1.
Find out more about Ffermwyr Yr Wnion Climate Action Group Farm Project in Gwynedd, Wales where ten farms are working together for climate resilience and river protection.

An important first step for farmers is to establish a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions from their existing farm business. There are useful tools available from Farm Carbon ToolkitAgrecalc and Cool Farm Tool and these three providers are now working together to harmonise their tools. Landowners can encourage and incentivise farmers to conduct these farm carbon audits, and may have a role to play in supporting changes identified.

Useful information about regenerative farming techniques is available from FABulous FarmersLEAF Marque and the Soil Association which has resources for farmers and growers on agroecological and organic principles.

The Diocese of Exeter has also recently published an Our Soils Toolkit which combines practical and theological engagement with the importance of soil.

According to Project Drawdown, the two climate solutions with the most potential for reducing emissions worldwide are reducing food waste and plant-rich diets.

Around a third of all food is wasted – either at farms or by consumers – meaning that the emissions created in the production of the food gave no human benefit. We need better management of food resources to ensure wonky veg are used, over-supplied food gets redirected to projects which will use it before it spoils (and consumers only buy the food they will use) and get creative with leftovers.

Many churches have started to run food waste and food sharing projects, which reduce waste and provide low cost or free food to community members. One example featured in our resource is the Gaminglay Food Project – a joint church initiative in Cambridgeshire.

The lowest carbon footprint diets are vegan, but reducing consumption of meat and dairy products can still have a significant impact. Choosing to eat better quality meat and dairy from local producers working to be more sustainable – and consuming less of it – may be an easier way forward for many.

As well as the household and local church actions above, local campaigners also have a role to play in promoting sustainable land use.

Check out the Wildlife Trusts’ Help Farmers Help Nature Toolkit or the Diocese of Exeter’s Our Soils Toolkit.

Find out more about what land your church owns regionally, and see if they could act on the recommendations from our sustainable farming resource.

Ask your church about their investments, and see if they could sign up to our Green Investment Declaration and begin investing in climate solutions such as sustainable farming.

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