Low carbon for farmers & landowners

Our Development team recently attended the Low Carbon Agriculture 2023 show on 7th and 8th February. The event explored innovative systems and practices to eliminate carbon emissions, through technological enhancements and better land management. As the UK strives towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, it is essential that the agricultural sector responds to new and sustainable practices. Low carbon means less carbon dioxide, which is one of the main greenhouse gases driving global climate change. It’s released through a range of activities - particularly, deforestation and burning fossil fuels. It’s important for us to lower our carbon footprint and switching to cleaner energy will facilitate this.

How does clean energy lower our carbon footprint?

Solar panels, wind turbines and even geothermal energy too, are all sources of energy that have an increased level of sustainability, lowering our reliance on natural gas and resource harvesting. This will help to reduce carbon emissions.

Low carbon for farmers

There is a great demand placed on the farming industry, especially since the agricultural market has grown even more over the years. Cultivating crops produces an incredible amount of CO2 and it is estimated that the agricultural industry has created up to 24% of global carbon emissions. It’s therefore a necessity to adopt low carbon practices. This will not only bring in new income for farmers, but it’ll also enhance the environment and tackle carbon footprints from developing even more. These are some of the key ways in which low carbon farming practices can be put into action: Reducing the amount of fertiliser, reducing tillage (such as heavy mining and digging of the soil), agroforestry (integrating various plants and trees into the farm), improved residue and water management, optimising the land with solar infrastructures. When a crop plantation produces low carbon farming, this protects, nourishes the land and enhances the overall farm in many ways. These actions contribute towards strengthening commitments towards tackling climate change.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the farm

There are multiple layers to enhancing the farm’s operations and ensuring that lower expels of carbon are transmitted into the environment. It’s important to repurpose excess food by rejuvenating the soil with it, instead of overproducing food and subsequent waste. By replacing fossil fuel use for heating and cooling with renewable alternatives, this will help to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses. Electricity for heating that is solely obtained from the grid is not a sustainable method of energy consumption. It’s better to create an an energy system via solar, which can be directly integrated into the farming structures. More reading about sustainable farming methods is available here.

Low carbon for landowners

In recent years, even more landowners are becoming aware of the benefits of optimising the land with renewable energy and implementing solar projects as part of this. In particular, when developing the land, it’s necessary to think about renewable energy sources and how these can be brought into the home in a smart and effective way to lower energy bills and even make money. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme helps landowners to make money back from the national grid, by selling any surplus energy generated through solar panels. Additionally, these are just a few of the many ways land can be more sustainable and cleaner for our environment: - Investing in renewable sources of energy - Including more green spaces within the design of the buildings and land, using sustainable materials to reduce the carbon footprint of any property developments and investing in effective insulation to lower the need for energy demands.

When owning land, how can we reduce our carbon footprint?

The amount of energy used in the operation of existing buildings represents an extortionate amount of carbon, contributing to 40% of the UK’s total. If we are to meet a more sustainable agenda, achieving the government’s net zero target, then we need to refurbish existing buildings with renewable, cleaner energy sources. By optimising the land, developing it with modern technology and investing in the enhancements that solar has to offer, we will move towards achieving the net zero target and lowering our carbon footprint.

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