Environment Project Overview

Tesco is working with groups of farmers to find practical solutions. As ways forward are found the results will be disseminated to the wider farming community. There will be regular updates of all projects and feedback is welcomed.

What are the objectives of this project?

1. Taking care of the environment is of great importance to society today and this project will demonstrate ways in which this is being achieved in producing food on farms.
2. Farming is being affected by the weather patterns associated with climate change and the project will look at ways in which farmers can adapt to these changes.
4. 
   What is the issue?

Through grazing and feed crop production, the livestock sector occupies ~30% of the earth’s land surface. As an economic activity, the livestock sector generates about 1.4% of the world’s GDP.  However, in terms of livelihood support, income and employment, the livestock sector is much more important, employing 1.3 billion people and creating livelihoods for one billion of the world’s poor. Livestock production has a substantial impact on the world’s water, land and biodiversity resources and contributes significantly to climate change. These impacts must be fully addressed if farming is to be environmentally, ethically and economically sustainable for future generations (Steinfeld et al. 2006).

2. Project Activities
   
   The project will look at the practical problems such as land management and disease control which are resulting now from climate change.
   The project will also investigate new methodologies to further address any contribution to climate change which can be tackled directly at farm level using the following topic headings:

1. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE)

The principle greenhouse gases are are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Since the beginning of the industrial period, anthropogenic (human generated) emissions have led to an increase in concentrations of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change.

1. Improved biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of genes, species and ecosystems that can be found in the environment.

1. Reduction of the risk of water pollution

Water pollution can result from fertiliser, manure and chemical run off into waterways.

1. Improved efficiency of water use

Water use refers to the way in which water is collected and utilised on farm.

1. Reduction in the risk of land degradation

Land degradation can result from soil erosion due to overgrazing, compaction, removal of trees and hedges, tillage methodologies.

1. Improved efficiency of human-made resource use

Human-made resource use refers to resources such as fertilizer, building materials, machinery and equipment.

References
Steinfeld, H.; Gerber, P.; Wassenaar, T.; Castel, V.; Rosales, M.; de Haan, C. 2006. Livestock’s long shadow. Environmental issues and options. Food Animal Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

 

Water Harvesting
As part of our environment pillar we are looking at ways to reduce energy use and increase the use of readily available resources. One of our TSBP farmers has been making big steps towards achieving these goals.

Water availability is a growing debate around the world as the effects of climate change are seen and our global water consumption increases. In the UK each of us uses 150 litres per day (30 gallons) and much of this could be recycled more directly in order that water is conserved more efficiently, for example, in reservoirs for human use. The Environmental Agency is responsible for managing the water supply in the UK whilst protecting the environment and is encouraging Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Farms often have large areas of concrete and roof surface which gather considerable amounts of water during rainy periods. This water can be gathered for on farm use and runoff can be managed such that storm water does not affect receiving rivers causing peaky discharges and thereby wasting water. Roy and Troy Stuart have built a new finishing cattle shed which incorporates a state of the art handling system, light, well ventilated pens and two additional features (both recognised BMPs) which will both conserve water and reduce the damaging effects of runoff downstream from the farm. The new building has large tanks which gather water from the roof area which can be used as drinking water for the cattle thus reducing water bills which are substantial on many farms. A beef finishing animal drinks in the order of 10 gallons of water a day depending upon its size, the temperature and the dry matter content of the diet. In addition a catchment pond (also called a detention system) has been built below the building such that water runoff from the concrete around the building is held after rainy periods and then released slowly through an outlet pipe into the stream below.

Adjoining the pens is this 60,000 litre water tank, that collects ‘run-off’ rainwater. Water from a borehole sunk under the tank supplements the water during dry periods. The collected water currently provides 10% of the 15,000 litres of water that the farms 300 cattle drink every day.