Working with farmers
We work with farmers and growers to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their resource efficiency. Find out more through our projects:
Low carbon farming
The Low Carbon Farming project will work with farmers and growers to provide expert advice and technical guidance on carbon footprinting and low carbon farming practices as well as energy production and efficient resource use. Reducing a farm's carbon footprint goes hand in hand with improving efficiency and careful farm management which carries not only environmental benefits but financial ones too. The project supports and guides farmers in tackling the challenging task of reducing carbon emissions and improving the sustainability of farm businesses.
Future Proofing Scotland's Farming
This £200,000 three year project ‘Future Proofing Scotland’s Farming’, aims to prepare agricultural businesses for the impacts, opportunities and risks that both climate and economic change bring. It will be delivered by the Soil Association and is being funded by the Scottish Government’s Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) skills development and Quality Meat Scotland.
Soil Association Scotland's climate change programme
Soil Association Scotland's climate change programme is a three year skills development programme that will equip 500 farmers and growers from 150 businesses with the skills and knowledge to both improve business sustainability and reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs). The programme runs from November 2008 to October 2011 and includes training events and farm walks, ongoing advice and support, fact sheets and case studies.
Resource efficiency
Issues of resource use are increasingly impacting upon the economic, political and environmental sustainability of agricultural businesses in the light of rapidly rising fuel costs and increased consumer awareness of sustainability issues. Being more efficient in your resource consumption means reduced energy and water bills, reduced production costs and lower waste disposal costs. We provide farmers with resources on how to reduce energy, water and minimise farm wastes - even whether energy could be produced on farm to increase self sufficiency or contribute to the national energy supply.