Businesses & Farmers - Supporting Healthy Ecosystems
Soil
Water
Habitat & Livestock
Nutrients & Pesticides
Businesses & Farmers - Supporting Healthy Ecosystems
Soil
In England
2.2 and Wales
MILLON TONNES
of soil are lost from
fields every year costing
an estimated
£0.9bn
£1.4bn
Water
Habitat & Livestock
Nutrients & Pesticides
Businesses & Farmers - Supporting Healthy Ecosystems
Soil
Water
In England
2.2 and Wales
MILLON TONNES
Food production is the
most water-intensive
business on earth
of soil are lost from
fields every year costing
an estimated
Irrigating crops and
raising animals alone
abstracts over
£0.9bn
£1.4bn
of the world’s freshwater
resources
Habitat & Livestock
Nutrients & Pesticides
Businesses & Farmers - Supporting Healthy Ecosystems
Soil
Water
Habitat & Livestock
In England
2.2 and Wales
MILLON TONNES
Food production is the
most water-intensive
business on earth
The Food and Drink
industry is one of the
business sectors
of soil are lost from
fields every year costing
an estimated
Irrigating crops and
raising animals alone
abstracts over
that poses the greatest
threat to critical ecosystems
£0.9bn
£1.4bn
of the world’s freshwater
resources
Nutrients & Pesticides
Businesses & Farmers - Supporting Healthy Ecosystems
Soil
Water
Habitat & Livestock
In England
2.2 and Wales
MILLON TONNES
Food production is the
most water-intensive
business on earth
The Food and Drink
industry is one of the
business sectors
of soil are lost from
fields every year costing
an estimated
Irrigating crops and
raising animals alone
abstracts over
that poses the greatest
threat to critical ecosystems
£0.9bn
£1.4bn
Nutrients & Pesticides
English farmers
are losing
and
TONNES OF
PHOSPHORUS
of the world’s freshwater
resources
every year that would
otherwise help sustain farming
The UK food supply chain employs 3.7million people,
produces 60% of our food and contributes 7% of GDP.
It is important for businesses in the food and drink
industry to understand the value of natural capital within
their business and to work with farmers to achieve
healthy ecosystems through the management of:
Soil
Water
Habitat &
Livestock
Nutrients &
Pesticides
Smart Soil Management
Business Case
Good soil management provides cost efficiencies; reducing
the risk of low yields and high costs
It is cheaper to avoid soil damage than rectify it afterwards
Healthy soil with good structure and biological activity
increases yields
Operational Risk
Compacted soils can increase runoff and result
in the loss of valuable topsoil and flooding
Erosion of soil into water courses reduces water quality
and increases the risk of flooding
Compacted soils can prevent rainfall from replenishing
groundwater supplies
Action
Test for nutrient levels and organic matter content and structure
Increase organic matter in soil
Plan rotation and management to improve soil structure, maintain soil cover and reduce soil erosion and run off
Avoid compacting soils with heavy machinery and
livestock trampling
2.2
In England and Wales
MILLION TONNES
of soil are lost from fields every year costing
an estimated
It takes
£0.9bn
£1.4bn
500 years to replace 25mm of topsoil
Smart Water Management
Business Case
Understanding the risks to your business of changing water availability allows you to plan and protect your interests for a profitable business
Investing in natural infrastructure will protect your long-term business interests and reduce reputational risk due to negative impacts on local communities
Reduce disruption to your business from extreme weather events
Operational Risk
Water is a national concern in the UK; water scarcity,
water quality, population and climate change make for a challenging future
Activities in the food and drink supply chain can reduce water availability in areas of scarcity, pollute water sources and impact on water-dependent habitats
The UK has experienced increased flooding over the last few years; affecting businesses, farming, homes and livelihoods
Action
Understand your businesses dependency on water and create an action plan to manage water sustainably and build resilience
to flooding and water shortages
Identify ways to manage your direct and indirect water use
Work with farmers and other stakeholders to develop an understanding of catchment level risk
Collaborate on sustainable water quality management
One-third of total global
food production
is in areas of high or extremely high water stress or competition
Food production is the most water-intensive business on earth;
Irrigating crops and raising
animals alone abstracts over
of the world’s freshwater resources, more
than twice the use of industrial sectors
Smart Habitat Management
Business Case
The loss of pollinators such as bees could result in a decrease
in crop yields and an increase in operational costs from mechanical pollination
Creating habitats that protect water courses ensures vital
water supplies for drinking and farming
Prevention of downstream pollution to bathing water,
shellfish waters and other sensitive areas
Operational Risk
Unmanaged livestock access to watercourses can cause river banks to collapse leading to erosion, flood risk and the loss of productive land and habitats
Unprotected river banks mean that livestock faeces can be deposited directly in water courses, presenting a health risk
to humans and wildlife
Action
Establish hedges and woodland alongside water courses
to prevent livestock access and enhance biodiversity
Fence along margins of fields adjacent to watercourses especially where there are sensitive bathing and shellfish waters down stream
Find out if your suppliers are in a catchment for bathing or shellfish waters
Manage livestock to minimise chance of faecal bacteria getting into water
The Food and Drink industry is one
of the business sectors that poses the
greatest threat to critical ecosystems
through impacts such as soil erosion, air, land and water pollution,
destruction of habitats and species reduction
70%
of crops grown for human consumption
Globally around
are directly dependent on insect pollinators, especially bees
Smart Management of
Nutrients and Pesticides
Business Case
Efficient use of nutrients and pesticides avoids waste
and reduces costs
Manage your reputation by reducing the risk of pollution to water courses that may affect drinking or bathing water quality
Protect pollinating insects to ensure farm productivity
Operational Risk
Excess nutrients and pesticides can be lost to ditches,
streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater, causing pollution
Slurry can cause serious pollution problems if it ends up
in the wrong places, such as water courses
Nitrate and phosphate pollution can cause harm to fish
and other aquatic life
Action
Make sure there is sufficient storage capacity for slurry to make
the most of the nutrient value
Establish grass and woodland buffer strips alongside watercourses
to intercept overland flow and trap sediments and nutrients
Ensure equipment is well maintained to reduce the risk of waste
and pollution and do not apply nutrients when drains are flowing
or heavy rains are expected
Develop a nutrient management plan that addresses individual
crop needs and existing nutrient levels in soils and manure
English farmers are losing
and
TONNES OF
PHOSPHORUS
every year that would otherwise help sustain farming
of drinking water failures are due to agriculture, mainly
pesticides; the cost of removing nitrate and pesticides
from surface and groundwater drinking supplies
is estimated at £133m/yr
Environment Agency
More detailed advice for farmers relating to water management
from the Environment Agency is available Click Here
Learn more about the importance of water management in
operations and agricultural supply chains in our report Smart
water: a prosperous future for the food and drink
supply chain Click Here
Business in the Community
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