Reports

Cross sector collaboration for farm sustainability

With UK government, an unlikely alliance explore the value of a common framework for measuring and monitoring farm sustainability holistically

For DEFRA’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) trials, The Sustainable Food Trust, Soil Association Exchange (Exchange), Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF), the Andersons Centre and BASIS Registration worked with 26 farms across England to explore the benefits of using a common framework to measure sustainability holistically. It found that the GFM helped farmers better understand their performance across economic, environmental and social indicators, while highlighting areas for improvement and action.

The short summary report outlines key learnings, including the importance of advisory support, reducing the burden of data collection and aligning public policy with practical farm-level realities. It concludes with five recommendations for Defra to help embed a harmonised, outcomes-based approach to agricultural sustainability in England.

Related Reports

  • This short-report marks the launch of the new GFM framework, designed to bring clarity and alignment to sustainability in farming. It explores updates to the framework and how the GFM is already helping farmers, businesses and policymakers speak a common language and drive action.

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  • Is global alignment possible? GFM trials explore the value of a common language in driving action across farming, policy and finance around the world

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  • Government, NGOs and businesses explore how common language for holistic sustainability can drive better finance for farms

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