Soil Association Exchange & Lloyds Bank Partner for Soil

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The rising demand for food is putting pressure on soil
The Soil Association Exchange has partnered with Lloyds Bank to support agricultural farmers, drive sustainable farming & combat soil degradation

As the human population continues to grow, so does the demand for food. To meet quotas, poor farming management is leading to soil degradation. A decline in soil quality impacts the condition of the food it grows, which has potentially devastating consequences for humanity.

In a 10-year partnership, Soil Association Exchange has teamed up with Lloyds Bank to advance the agricultural industry towards net zero.

The Soil Association Exchange has utilised its initiative to catalyse sustainable efforts in agriculture and assess around 240,000 hectares of UK farmland, by working with 12 industry partners and 685 farms. 

How The Soil Association Exchange is supporting farmers

Through this partnership, farmers will be offered a direct plan on how they can expand their sustainability efforts, support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and improve soil health. 

The Soil Association Exchange calculates the environmental impact of farm’s operations by reviewing:
  • The soil
  • Water
  • Carbon
  • Animal welfare
  • Social impact
  • Biodiversity

The Soil Association Exchange then provides farmers with guidance on how they can advance their sustainability plans. Then, farmers are able to cooperate with Exchange experts to link them to new avenues that will help fund the move to sustainable farming.

Farmers will also receive an action plan that has been crafted by using a digital dashboard and receiving support from corporate partners in supply chains. 

Lloyds Bank expands its agricultural efforts 

The Lloyds Banking Group has a focus on personal and commercial customers through its range of banking and financial services. It is the largest financier of UK agriculture, funding more than 550 farmers to participate in the Soil Association Exchange environmental baseline study.

"The partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and the Soil Association Exchange is the most ambitious of its kind, focusing on a holistic view of farming’s environmental impact. Our reports showcase the opportunity to deliver actionable insights that help farmers improve practices to become more resilient, while also securing long-term profit,” shared Lee Reeves, UK Head of Agriculture at Lloyds Bank. "Sustainable farming is not just about reducing environmental impact – it’s about securing the future of the entire UK farming and food supply chain."

"Farmers are on the frontline of climate change and biodiversity loss, but they are also key to the solution," said Joseph Gridley, CEO of Soil Association Exchange. "Every farm is different, so support is essential to help farmers navigate the complexities of sustainable farming. Our goal is to empower farmers with the tools they need to make positive changes for their businesses, their communities, and the environment while still producing high quality, nutritious food.”

From the association’s research and the quantity and breadth of farms audited in the study, Joseph feels that the need to adopt environmental measurement at scale is clear.

“Baselining UK farms with a common methodology provides a route forwards and addresses the real risk of inaction and scepticism in collating data,” he continued. “Our approach also offers farmers confidence to make informed decisions; balancing environmental sustainability with profitability, ensuring farmers have the tools and guidance they need to access the funding needed to support their transition.”

 

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