New group set up by Northern Lincolnshire farmers to tackle environmental impacts of farming
It's the 10th group of its kind to be established across the UK since 2020
Last updated 9th Aug 2024
Two Northern Lincolnshire farmers have set up a new group to tackle the environmental impacts of farming.
The aim is to increase biodiversity in the area, improve water quality, achieve net carbon farming by 2040 and generate new trading opportunities for farmers.
It's the 10th group of its kind to be established across the UK since 2020.
Digby Sowerby from Farming Forward in Ulceby helped set up the group and tells us why:
"Environmental Farmers Group really came about in the context of two changes.
"Firstly we had the loss of the basic payment scheme which is where farmers get paid a fixed amount per hectare.
"Next we had the emergence of the natural capital markets"
Mr Sowerby tells us what the group focuses on:
"Natural capital is a concept where you value the environment.
"This is where Government has legislated that organisations must offset the impact that they have on the environment.
"It was set up as a cooperative for farmers led by farmers.
"Essentially to dedicate a resource to helping farmers understand the natural capital markets, and trade within those markets confidently.
"Really the Environmental Farmers group is there on the side of farmers to advise farmers on those markets."