Network Innovation News - October 2021

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NETWORK INNOVATION NEWS Circular Systems Issue T HE L ATEST NEWS & I N FO R M ATI O N FO R & F ROM LEA F ’ S DE M O N STR AT I O N FAR M S & I N N OVATI O N C E N TRE S 1

HELLO Welcome to the October issue of the Network Innovation News, exclusively for and from LEAF Demonstration Farms & LEAF Innovation Centres.

This issue focuses on Circular Systems: maximising efficiency by utilising and minimising waste to create a more holistic and integrated farming system.

You will find features on water use and management from New Forest Fruit, utilising red clover as a protein source from IBERS (Aberystwyth University) and how waste potatoes from the Jersey Royal Company are finding a new life as vintage vodka.

This autumn is shaping up to be a particularly busy time here at LEAF. Take a look at our key updates from a variety of projects we’re involved in, including a short introduction to the new members of our growing team. We are especially looking forward to launching Agrii’s Throws Farm Technology Centre and Newcastle University Farms as our newest LEAF Innovation Centres on Wednesday 13th October. This will be an online event with whistle-stop virtual tours around both sites. We hope to see many of you there as we welcome them to the LEAF Network!

India Grant-Wood India.grant-wood@leafuk.org Please do get in touch if you have project work or research updates that you would like to share with the LEAF Network. Also, please let me know if you have any thoughts or would like further information on any of the features included in this issue.

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CONTEN TS Sustainable water management at New Forest Fruit

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Bio-refining red clover at IBERS

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Royal Mash Vintage Vodka

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News from LEAF and the Network

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Project Updates

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The LEAF Network

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KEY DATES: LEAF Innovation Centre virtual launch

13th October

Resilient & Ready event (Scotland)

27th October

IFM & LEAF Marque Training

19th-21st October 3

SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AT NEW FOREST FRUIT

LEAF Demonstration Farm, New Forest Fruit situated in the spectacular New Forest in Hampshire, are growers of the UK’s earliest soft fruit. Scrutinisation of water use efficiency is key to their integrated approach and is focused on optimising irrigation water use across the business. Ashley Wensak, Compliance Manager at New Forest Fruit explains more…

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As experienced producers of specialist soft fruit, New Forest Fruit (NFF) have long been aware of the importance of good quality water as a fundamental resource in the production of quality, high yielding crops

BUILDING CAPACITY A major opportunity to build on our already state of the art pumping and delivery equipment, came in 2014 with our first purpose built, above ground reservoir installation at our Penerley Farm site, close to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire (supported by the EU and DEFRA as part of the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013).

The reservoir’s location was chosen for its proximity to the existing main pumping, fertigation and storage tanks, and also the production systems in place where the reservoir was built had reached the end of their useful life.

The persistently wet nature of this field was evidence of a significant clay content under

One particularly ageing, rented glasshouse site prompted investment in a twin walled plastic, widespan polyhouse structure being earmarked for NFF’s home site, which was completed earlier this year, with rainwater harvesting being at the heart of the design selected.

the topsoil, but an Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) liner was necessary due to the walls of the reservoir extending above ground level.

Following on from the successful construction and adoption of the Penerley reservoir, the potential to capture and store water resources turned to the newly acquired glasshouse site known as Kings Lane - a modern 2.6 hectare glasshouse.

RAINFALL STORAGE & CAPTURE To alleviate local residents’ concerns around potential localised flooding issues, we made every effort to capture and store water from rainfall. There are huge spin off benefits to capturing rainwater as it allows extra flexibility for tailored nutrition and feeding programmes and can lead to considerable financial savings by limiting the need for mains water.

Alongside all of these improvements, the potential for harvesting rainwater from some 20 hectares of French tunnels (plastic extends fully to the floor, for early strawberry production) and more than 50 hectares of Spanish tunnels is being trialled with the intention of rolling it out once all table top systems had been upgraded to the latest specifications.

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WORKING FOR WATER QUALITY In a variation to what happens at the Kings Lane glasshouse, rainwater harvested from this site will be directed towards what was, until recently, NFF’s Newhouse Farm’s main reservoir. Before being discharged, water passes through a series of treatment stages to maintain quality whilst in storage. This system has already been successfully trialled with nearby stored surface water.

Driven by Technical Director, Grzesiek Putyra, all stored water has undergone regular monitoring for oxygen levels and methods have been implemented to improve and stabilise these levels. The benefits to the crop are significant; oxygenation of the root zone promotes healthy roots which are further enhanced by beneficial fungi and bacteria. Improved water quality has also enabled NFF to discontinue dosing of sodium hypochlorite prior to water being used for fertigation.

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FURTHER GROWTH During 2020, permission was granted for two additional reservoirs to be constructed at NFF’s Newhouse Farm site.

Simultaneously, the original reservoir was dredged and fitted with a liner, thereby reducing water lost through the side walls.

Aeration was installed in the newest reservoirs from the outset, with an increasing move away from turning the water over with paddle type mixers to adding air and creating gentle streams of bubbles using venturis and low energy pumping systems.

Water is one of the most critical resources for sustainable agriculture worldwide. Monitoring, protecting, capturing and enhancing water quality are core elements of our Integrated Farm Management approach here at New Forest Fruits.

Farmers and growers across the globe are facing the challenges of climate change and we are committed to doing all we can to improve efficiencies and continue to innovate.

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Professor Joe Gallagher (left) with Dr Ana Winters & Jim Vale Germinal in the trial plots in Gogerddan

BIO-REFINING RED CLOVER at IBERS Groundbreaking research at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) is looking at new uses for red clover to drive economic and environmental benefits for farmers and support the nation’s health.

The UK imports of soya meal was 2.04M t in 2017/18, of which 49% was fed to pigs, poultry and farmed fish. Concerns about this dependency, and the lack of sustainability of soybean production and supply, have motivated studies into the feasibility of replacing imported soybean with home grown protein crops, such as red clover.

Whilst the value of red clover as a high-quality, protein-rich forage crop for cattle and sheep is already well recognised, new work being carried out at IBERS is aiming to demonstrate the versatility of red clover in a more circular approach to agriculture.

The ‘RC (Red Clover) Promo’ project is seeking to bio-refine red clover forage to provide a source of home-grown protein for monogastric farm livestock, primarily poultry and pigs.

As well as the environmental benefits, such an approach could potentially create jobs in the agriculture, food and biotechnology sectors in Wales and beyond. Professor Joe Gallagher, project lead explained: “Red clover can be grown across the whole of Wales and the UK. Extracting protein from it can bring direct economic benefits to farmers as a ‘cash crop’ by producing protein for monogastrics on-farm with the added benefit of reducing the growing UK protein deficit. Improving the protein quality of red clover through innovative plant breeding can be a key long-term strategic driver to reduce our reliance on imports.”

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Red clover can fix atmospheric nitrogen thereby reducing the need for mineral nitrogen fertiliser, leading to both economic and environmental benefits, such as improved soil fertility and structure. As a perennial crop, it captures sunlight throughout the year, depositing carbon from the atmosphere into the soil.

The RC Promo project is also investigating ways to further increase

The outcome of this breeding scheme will be bespoke red clover varieties specifically for biorefining with protein and high value compounds” concluded Professor Gallagher.

The research will focus on preserving protein quality and maximising yields of these target products. The protein will be fed to chickens and compared with soya fed chickens to demonstrate its potential as a soya protein replacement.

the value of red clover with regards to health supplements. It is looking at coextraction of isoflavonoid compounds with oestrogenic properties, and also the sugar alcohol pinitol. These are high value compounds that accumulate in red clover in relatively high levels and are currently used in a range of health supplements, including antidiabetics and those that address menopausal symptoms.

Historically, red clover breeding programmes at IBERS have aimed to reduce the concentrations of phytoestrogens, specifically formononetin, as this is associated with decreased fertility in sheep and cattle as the crop is traditionally fed to animals directly. However, they are readily separated from proteins and fibre during the bio-refining process so no longer cause problems in the final products.

Professor Gallagher added: ”To increase the content of these valuable components, we will initiate an appropriate crossing and recurrent plant selection scheme to introduce beneficial traits into an elite red clover recipient population with high protein and phytoestrogen content in the forage.

This RC Promo project is funded by Welsh Government through SMART expertise and brings together complementary expertise in a partnership between Aberystwyth University’s IBERS (AU-IBERS), Germinal Holdings LTD (GHL) and Blue Sky Botanics (BSB); and benefits from the expertise of the BEACON biorefining team at IBERS Aberystwyth University.

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From the island of Jersey comes a new Crown Jewel:

Royal Mash Vintage Vodka This Autumn, LEAF Demonstration Farm, Jersey Royal Company launched Royal Mash Vintage Vodka, which is characterized by their exclusive Jersey potatoes from which it is made.

Royal Mash is a 40% ABV ultrapremium, hand-made vintage vodka.

It is produced from the world's finest potatoes and hand-crafted in bespoke 200 litre copper stills.

The Master Distiller expertly removes the heads and the tails of the distillation, using only the purest heart of the vodka.

Due to the unique shape of the still and the length of the rectifying column used in the process, the vodka is distilled only once. This means that the finished spirit retains the character of the ingredients, producing a rather exceptional vodka with a deliciously distinctive taste and smooth mouthfeel.

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The vodka has been created by two people with a passion for fine food and drinks: Rachel de Caen, a trained chef, and Peter Le Fol du Taillis. The Jersey-based owners have

LEAF Demonstration

an interesting royal connection too. The Royal Mash logo is

Farm Jersey Royal

the crest of the Le Fol family, who were ennobled by Henry

Company’s waste

IV in 1594. Little did King Henry know that four centuries

potatoes find a

on, the emblem would be associated with so distinguished

new life...

a spirit.

Rachel de Caen said: "We set out to make the best vodka imaginable. We live on the beautiful island of Jersey which produces the only potatoes we know of to boast the equivalent of an 'appellation d'origine controlee'.

"The combination of these finest of ingredients, brand owners with exquisite taste, an expert Master Distiller, and a distillation process that creates the purest spirit, has resulted in a superior and memorable vodka.

"We have trialled Royal Mash in some of the top bars in Monaco, France and London and the response has been enthusiastic to say the least. Jersey is known for fine produce and elegant experiences and we think that Royal Mash Ultra-Premium Vintage Vodka further enhances that image. When blind-tasted against well-established brands, ours is in a league of its own."

Each batch of Royal Mash is individually taste tested, approved, and signed off. The terroir and the quality of the fine potatoes ensuring that each vintage will be of a superb quality.

Royal Mash is so smooth it can be enjoyed neat, in a very dry vodka martini or with a mixer. Royal Mash has a complexity that also means it can be enjoyed in classic or contemporary cocktails.

The brand has won a Master's Award in the Luxury Masters; a Master's Award in the Global Travel Retail Masters 2020; a Silver Award in the Vodka Masters, a Silver Award in the SB Autumn Blind Tasting Awards 2020 and a Bronze Award in the London Spirits Competition 2020.

Royal Mash Vodka is packaged in an elegant bottle, topped with a cork and is available in Sci miniatures, 20cl, and 70cl bottles.

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New LEAF Innovation Centre!

We are delighted to announce that Agrii’s Throws Farm Technology Centre is joining the LEAF Network as a LEAF Innovation Centre.

The site is incredibly strong in Integrated Crop Management

NEWS FROM LEAF & THE NETWORK

R&D, with a particular focus on multifactorial variety trials.

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Throws Farm’s expertise in arable IPM will strengthen our existing portfolio and will support increased environmental activities and learning on-site, particularly as part of their new Green Horizons initiative.

We hope you will join us in welcoming them at the joint virtual launch with Newcastle University Farms at 10am on 13th October. If you didn’t receive your invitation, please do get in touch with india.grant-wood@leafuk.org.

We are so pleased to unveil our new and interactive Network Map...

Have you seen our new interactive LEAF Network map? We have given it a complete overhaul to make it easier to identify those within the Network and where particular strengths lie in relation to Integrated Farm Management.

We hope that this new tool will be particularly useful to you in connecting to other members of the LEAF Network.

Take a look here.

We will continue to refresh profiles annually but if there are any burning updates needed, please do get in touch!

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Groundswell Agricul ture event round up

Growing LEAF Marque: Listening | Adapting | Improving Gaining insight into the impact of LEAF Marque to the uptake of more sustainable farming is crucial for continuous improvement. That is why we invest in monitoring and evaluation. We regularly commission independent impact evaluations that provide vital insights into the impact of our work and how we need to continually respond, improve and adapt. Research guides our way forward.

Growing Recognition

LEAF Marque goes beyond being purely a certification system...

Helps with risk management, demonstrates due diligence and strengthens position around

Growing LEAF’s Voice

government support schemes ie. ELM

Every aspect of LEAF’s work is supported by

Growing Retailer Reputation

LEAF Marque, offering: - Credibility - Income - Technical tools

LEAF Marque quantifies and independently

for farmers, supply chain actors & regulators,

verifies continuous sustainability improvements

advocacy & public engagement

and supports risk and reputation management

Growing Impact

Growing The LEAF Community

Significantly contributes to farmers improving their farming practices, whether certified or not

Engaged farmers, brands &

THE STUDY

LEAF enjoyed a very successful couple of days at Groundswell Agriculture in June, with the highlight of the event being our panel exploring LEAF’s 30 year journey developing and demonstrating Integrated Farm Management, and how this aligns with regenerative agriculture. Caroline Drummond spoke alongside LEAF Demonstration Farmer Ian Waller, Alastair Leake from GWCT, Resilient and Ready project farmer Andy Bason and LEAF Assurance Manager, Jenny Clark, on our experiences of the last 30 years and ambitions for

THE METHODOLOGY Methodology included semi-structured interviews with farmers, suppliers, retailers, brands, government agencies, consultants and members of the farming media. Interviews with LEAF staff and ISEAL members, literature review and a workshop with LEAF staff.

Growing Awareness

commitment to sustainable agriculture of the LEAF Team

Growing Value

Raises societal awareness and urgency of environmental issues

Farmers who have a strong motivation to work with nature consider LEAF Marque

Growing Rewards

to be of great value, especially for those with

Delivers financially beyond market opportunities,

short supply chains. Brands value LEAF’s

for personal pride and for protecting the land:

passion, expertise and consistency.

- Increased gross margins - Improved farm biodiversity, beauty and public image

Growing Credibility

- A community of growers supporting and learning from each other - Commercially sensible, grows the long-term health and future productivity of farm - Provides a story to tell, showcases best practice and

LEAF Marque offer a robust, holistic core to farmers’ improvements, with third party assurance giving credibility, excellent field standards and appropriate wildlife standards.

demonstrates going ‘the extra mile’ - Gives credibility and defensibility to good farming - Strengthens farmer’s position and respect with retailers - Enables earned recognition for environmental inspections

LEAF Marque Independent Evaluation We recently commissioned an independent evaluation to evaluate how LEAF Marque supports the ‘enabling environment, for LEAF’s broader work.

The study found that LEAF Marque goes beyond being a certification system by growing:

•

LEAF’s voice

• Recognition

the next 10 years.

• Awareness

We were also delighted to unveil

• Rewards

our short film on illustrating IFM

• Value

as a successful regeneration

• Impact

approach. A huge thank you

•

Retailer reputation

•

The LEAF Community

to all the farmers who were involved in this. If you haven’t already seen it, do have a watch!

For those who didn’t attend Groundswell, a filming of the panel discussion is available here.

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retailers respect the hard work &

This evaluation study was independently carried out by Mike Read Associates from November 2020 to March 2021. The objective of the study was to evaluate how LEAF Marque supports the ‘enabling environment’ for LEAF’s broader work.

• Credibility The findings indicate that every aspect of our work is supported, in one or more ways, by the existence of LEAF Marque and the credibility and income that it provides.

LEAF expands!

As the LEAF business grows, so does our team!

A big welcome to Callum, Martyn, Nigel & Matt...

Callum Bennett, Technical Officer “I’m Callum, and I recently finished my master’s in Biosciences at Durham University. I started my role as a Technical Officer at LEAF and I will be involved with lots of LEAF’s projects including SEAMS, DiverIMPACTS and IPMWorks.”

Martyn Buttle, Technical Officer “My role at LEAF is working with Caroline and the technical team on exciting new projects and keeping up to date on current affairs in our exciting industry. I graduated from Bangor University with a BSc degree in Geography. During the degree I enjoyed studying the natural environment and its management, including fields trips to Henfaes Research Centre (my unknown first link to LEAF!). I have just completed a MSc degree in River Environments and their management at the University of Birmingham.”

Nigel Evans, Technical Officer “Hello everyone, I recently joined LEAF as part of the LEAF Marque team. My background is in tropical agriculture in mixed farming systems and technical arable farming in the UK. I am delighted to be here at LEAF and am looking forward to working with many of you in the future.”

Matthew Bradley, Marketing Officer “I’m Matt and the newest member of the marketing team here at LEAF. I graduated from Nottingham Trent University where I studied Practical Media, specialising in film. As Marketing Officer, my main responsibility is managing LEAF’s many social media channels.”

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LEAF is involved in a variety of projects with our farmers, industry partners and researchers in the UK and across Europe through the EU H2020 programme. Regular updates on our projects are also shared in the IFM Quarterly, members E-news and at our events.

If you would like to know more about a particular project, or be involved, please

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PROJECT UPDATES

contact: india.grant-wood@leafuk.org

Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change Supported by The Linder Foundation, LEAF’s one-year-long ‘Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change’ project is working with farmers who are using nature to mitigate climate change and build resilience on their farms. The 10 UK-based farms are championing climate change mitigation through their own farm operations and landscapes. They are doing this by harnessing the nature that surrounds them, and, alongside science and industry experts, LEAF is providing practical and bespoke onfarm advice. All of the farms have completed a carbon assessment using AgreCalc and are developing plans to create and manage naturebased solutions with one-to-one support from a science/industry expert. Throughout the latter half of the project, the farmers will set their nature-based solutions into motion. The project will spark long-term and climate-positive change.

Each farm will act as demonstration case studies for widespread peer-to-peer knowledge transfer.

SHOWCASE LEAF and the University of Reading are working with a group of farmers in this H2020 project to co-develop novel ideas that benefit both farmers and wildlife. Co-design discussions have culminated in the selection of a winter cover crop experiment with a soil focus, varying cover crop rooting depth in particular. Deeper rooting cover crop species are expected to help reduce nitrogen leaching in addition to increasing organic matter and crop resilience to extreme weather. Benefits for soil biodiversity, yield and cost-effectiveness will also be measured. The intervention will be implemented in next year’s crop cycle.

New Agroforestry Project Are you interested in increasing carbon storage and reducing inputs in arable farming?

We’re looking for farmers interested in testing the benefits of intercropping arable fields with fruit trees and flower strips. We will test whether this agroforestry treatment is beneficial for biodiversity (e.g. natural enemies, earthworms, and pollinators), soil health, carbon storage, production, and profits. This project is a collaboration between Andy Bason at Newhouse Farms and Dr Amelia Hood and Prof Simon Potts at the University of Reading. If you’re interested, please get in touch with Dr Amelia Hood: a.s.hood@reading.ac.uk

Have your say!

Get involved in these upcoming workshops to help sturcture ELMs policy around agroforestry. More information here.

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LEAF DEMONSTRATION LEAF Demonstration Farms FARMS

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AJ & CI Snell

Anthony

Snell

Herefordshire

Addicott Partners

Robert

Addicott

Somerset

Barfoots of Botley

Keston

Williams

West Sussex

Bottom Farm

Duncan

Farrington

Northants

Bowhill Farming

Sion

Williams

Selkirk

Carroll's Heritage Potatoes

Anthony and Lucy

Carroll

Northumberland

Church Farm

Jeremy

Padfield

Somerset

Crowmarsh Battle Farms Ltd

Charlie and Tim

Chamberlain

Oxfordshire

E Dunning & Son

Paul

Hayward

East Yorkshire

E J Barker & Sons

Brian and Patrick

Barker

Suffolk

Elveden Farms Ltd

Andrew

Francis

Norfolk

E W Davies Farms Ltd

Jeremy

Durrant

Essex

Frogmary Green Farm

Nick and Claire

Bragg

Somerset

Great Wollaston

Robert

Kynaston

Shropshire

G's Marketing (Cambs Farm Growers)

Charles

Shropshire

Cambridgeshire

The Green House Sussex Lt

William

Pitts

West Sussex

Hampden Bottom Farm Ltd

Ian

Waller

Buckinghamshire

J W Pigott & Son

Ian

Pigott

Hertfordshire

JSR Farms Ltd

Charlie

Parker

East Yorkshire

The Jersey Royal Company

Mike

Renouard

Jersey

Leckford Estate Ltd

Andrew

Ferguson

Hampshire

Lockerley Estate

Craig

Livingstone

Hampshire

Morriston Farms

Lord David

Kennedy

Ayrshire

New Forest Fruit Company

Sandy

Booth

Hampshire

Nonington Farms

James

Loder-Symonds

Kent

Overbury Enterprises

Jake

Freestone

Gloucestershire

P N Broad & Son

Hugh

Broad

East Lothian

Ragley Hall Farms

Hamish

Stewart

Warwickshire

R P Tilt & Son

Nicholas

Tilt

Shropshire

R. C. Felce & Son

David

Felce

Cambridgeshire

Renner Farming

John and Helen

Renner

Northumberland

Russell Smith Farms Ltd

Ralph

Grindling

Cambridgeshire

Silton Manor Farming

Keith

Harris

Dorset

Sir Richard Sutton Estates Ltd

Chris

Baylis

Lincolnshire

Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd

Mark

Knight

West Sussex

Worth Farms

Duncan

Worth

Lincolnshire

Wantisden Hall Farms

Tim

Pratt

Suffolk

Wilkin & Sons Ltd

Chris

Newenham

Essex

LEAF INNOVATION CENTRES

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Cover Photos: New Forest Fruit

www.leaf.eco

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