Global Farm Metric

The current industrial farming model is contributing to escalating climate change, biodiversity loss and adverse public health. But farming is also unique. Not only can it protect biodiversity and support health and wellbeing, it can remove carbon from the atmosphere and become a nature-based solution to climate change.

For farmers to become the agent for this change, they must have the information they need to manage this transition, a common understanding of the impact they are having over time, and a strong business case for change.

The Global Farm Metric framework provides a consistent way to measure whole-farm impacts. Farmers and farm consultants can use this to improve their understanding of sustainability, identify where further information may need to be gathered and create better environmental, social and economic outcomes.

Consistent measurement of impacts creates a baseline of farm-level data that can be used as evidence for certifiers, government and the supply chain. Governments, for example, can use this baseline to monitor progress towards sustainability goals; as the basis of farm support; to evidence the delivery of public goods; and to see the impact of policy. The finance and supply chain can similarly use this information as the basis of investment and loans and evidencing ESG progress.

This shifts the balance of financial advantage towards more sustainable production, enabling all stakeholders to drive change from the ground up and top down.

At farm-level, the categories of the framework encompass all aspects of sustainability, so none are considered in isolation. The sub-categories explain the categories in greater depth, providing focus for the subsequent indicator level. The indicators identify how to measure the sub-categories and encourage further investigation.

The framework is to be embedded into existing farm data collection systems to create a common language for sustainability that helps farmers to understand and communicate their impacts in a holistic way. It also establishes the common thread of data to align existing farm assessment and management systems which will reduce duplication and encourage their use by farmers. For more specialist applications, additional data will still be required. For example, a carbon calculator may need more information on sources of emissions and sequestration to evidence carbon net gain and access new markets.

The GFM, is not a new farm management tool, certification scheme or audit. It is a common framework to be integrated into existing tools, assessments and frameworks that measure on-farm impacts. By doing so, it connects all food and farming stakeholders and aligns new and existing frameworks around the world to create a common language and baseline of data.

Some key differences:

• The research tool is used only to test the framework with farmers
• The research tool is a ‘window’ into the framework – it is not a direct duplication
• The research tool has an online platform, scoring, calculations and data interpretation – the framework does not
• The framework currently does not define the methods and ways in which farmers should collect data – a tool that has the framework embedded might recommend these
• The framework is to be embedded into existing data collection systems so all farmers measure the same data points and everyone has a consistent baseline of farm-level data

The Coalition is supported by over 80 partners, including farmers, consultants, researchers, educators, environmental groups, certifiers, food companies, financial services and government agencies – all working together to develop the Global Farm Metric and drive adoption.

Delivering the Global Farm Metric is not only about defining a framework to measure on-farm sustainability, it is about ensuring all stakeholders use the same framework to assess impact that belongs in the commons. The priority therefore has been to work with a broad set of stakeholders, all of whom are looking for their own answers on sustainability, and to unite them through this standardised approach to measurement.

Each of our coalition partners have signed up to this, understanding that the Global Farm Metric is an independent, transparent and robust system of data collection, and bring with them the potential for adoption across their supply chains and networks.

The Global Farm Metric is a framework for measuring whole-farm sustainability; it only defines the common points of data collection needed for farmers to measure their impacts in a consistent way. It is not a carbon calculator or farm management tool.

The data collection recommended in each of the GFM categories are important to measure when thinking about your GHG emissions and potential for sequestration. These overlap with existing frameworks and assessments for calculating GHGs.

However, to produce a carbon footprint, you would need a tool that defines the method, benchmarking data and specialist data collection required to get a full understanding of on-farm GHG emission and sequestration.

If you are taking part in a trial, the GFM research tool includes a basic carbon calculator, designed to show you the main sources of emissions from your type of farm. These can give you a high level indication of your highest emitting enterprise. However, the tool and results are not sensitive enough to show the impacts of many important management changes you could make to reduce your emissions.

The GFM data you have collected can be used to populate specialised online carbon calculator tools like AgreCalc or Cool Farm Tool which can give you a more comprehensive carbon calculation that can be used as a starting point for deciding the best way forward for your farm

We believe that net zero – however that is defined – needs to be achieved in a way that also delivers benefits to biodiversity, our water systems, human health, rural communities and more.

While net zero schemes can help farmers reduce their emissions, the pursuit of a single outcome in isolation, such as carbon reduction or biodiversity gain, can come at a cost to other parts of the system. Furthermore, in countries with net zero targets like the UK, the implementation of net-zero at scale could significantly reduce domestic food production and force farmers to produce food more intensively. This could increase overall global emissions by driving up ’cheaper’ imports from parts of the world where agriculture has a relatively greater carbon footprint than the UK.

The Global Farm Metric defines and measures whole-farm sustainability in a holistic way, providing balance to the net zero agenda. It also provides a common framework for carbon calculators so that each captures the key emissions and sequestration in agriculture consistently. This creates alignment and gives farmers a head-start when filling in carbon calculators, tackling key barriers to knowledge and engagement.

The Global Farm Metric can therefore help deliver net zero, without compromising on other factors which are also key for planetary and human health.

The GFM framework identifies the main tenets of farm level natural capital – including biodiversity, natural habitats, healthy soil, clean water, air, carbon capture as well as the social benefits of access to the countryside (social capital). The framework also identifies these as points of impact that need to be identified, monitored and improved (or maintained).

As we finalise the third layer of the framework (indicators/data collection) we will be able to articulate more precisely how the GFM data informs natural capital accountability.

The GFM frameworks aligns with the the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is relevant to and supportive of 16 of the 17 SDGs, and 94 of the 169 SDG targets.

The GFM recommends a common framework to consistently measure on-farm impacts in a way that is practical and useful for farmers. When embedded into existing data collection frameworks and tools, a common baseline of farm-level data can be collected to monitor progress towards the SDGs at a local, national and international scale.

The Global Farm Metric mission is to drive positive social, environmental and economic outcomes. As farms now cover half of the earths habitable land, we need to understand, monitor and improve negative impacts at farm-level.

Data collection on whole-farm impacts is the only way to fully understand the sustainability of food production. Collecting primary data consistently is essential for reliable and transparent reporting of impacts along the supply chain, from farm to fork.

Farmers, government, finance, business and consumers can then use this information to make more sustainable and transparent choices – whether it be on farm, public and private investment or purchasing decisions.

Reducing our impact on nature, climate and health is dependent on everyone being able to do better.

Farmers: reduce complexity, save time and improve sustainability outcomes

Government: consistent data to evidence and monitor public goods

Certifiers and consultants: increased take up by farmers

Finance: evidence ESG targets, net zero goals and sustainable investment

Food industry: evidence, transparency and communication