Presentation by Dr Nigel Davies of Muntons PLC

1. Practical Sustainability
What’s in it for you?
Dr Nigel Davies – Manufacturing and Sustainability Director

2. Emissions from Agriculture
What are our targets?

3. GHG Emissions Reduction from Crops
Government View
Nitrogen measurement and use
• 40% farms have no nitrogen management plan (26% by area)
• Highest N emissions from soils is where N application is high
or soils warm and wet
• Use of nitrification inhibitors – cost effective?
Precision Farming
• 22% use GPs; 20% use soil mapping for nitrogen
• 50% of farmers say GPS is too expensive
Plant Breeding
• Greater influence of root soil interaction
• Breeding for nitrification inhibition in spring barley (JHI)

4. GHG Emissions Reduction from Crops
Government View
Soil Organic Carbon
• No- or reduced-till can increase soil organic carbon? Latest
studies suggests it is the same but redistributed differently
• Soil C storage too risky due to potential run-off and risk of
subsequent nitrous emissions
Policy / Legislation
• Roadmap of voluntary measures
• Sustainable Intensification support
• Possible legislation planning in 2016 for 2028-2032

5. “Our farmers are making an
important commitment to reduce
their greenhouse gas emissions
and we will continue to support
them to achieve this … I expect
the partner organisations to
show clear leadership as industry
works to meet this challenge.”
Sir James Paice, 2012

6. GHG Emissions Reduction from Crops
Priorities identified and by whom

7. 10cm
6m drill on a 24m tramline
Manual
No
guidance
Medium
SF2/HP 10cm
+/- 5cm
RTK
+/- 2cm
Effective drill
width m
5.75 5.9 5.98
Effective
tramlines m
23 23.6 23.92
Overlap
%
4 1.6 0.33
2cm
25cm
A Tape Measure Saves GHG and Money
Slide courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones

8. 2cm
25cm
Does it make a supply chain saving?
Data courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones: Figures adapted from HGCA Research Review 71 – page 27
Report authors: Stuart Knight, Paul Miller & Jim Orson
SF: StarFire is a wide-area differential GPS developed
by John Deere's NavCom and precision farming groups
RTK: Real Time Kinematic

9. Slide courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones
Fertiliser Spreader Control

10. Slide courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones
Tractor mounted sensing

11. Carbon Footprint of Malted Ingredients
A common currency

12. Emissions from Crops
Analysis

13. Carbon Footprint: Scopes 1-3
Fuel 17%
N2O from
Soil 35%
N fertiliser
48%
Difference
between
models
6%

14. .. becoming a ‘low
carbon grower’
should not add cost
to the production of
malting barley …
Use of abated nitrogen fertiliser
Precision farming techniques that result in more
efficient use of/reduction of inputs
Use of Green compost to comply with PAS100 ** to improve
soil structure/reduce the inorganic fertiliser used
Use of alternative fertilisers that comply with PAS110**
Nitrogen fixing cover crops
Adherence to Conservation Grade/LEAF protocols to improve biodiversity
Compliance with the SAI Platform Protocol
To qualify as ‘low carbon’ growers must adhere
to at least TWO of the following*
** No onions or other products known to
taint grain are permitted
* In addition to completing a carbon footprint form

15. 300
290
280
270
260
250
Which areas have the greatest impact?
YIELD
+20%
300
TRACTOR
HOURS -20%
CAN
– 20%
LOW CARBON
CAN
264
253
205
240
230
220
190
180
170
160
150
210
200
CARBONFOOTPRINTOFMALTINGBARLEY
kgCO2eq
Base level
301kg CO2 eq/tonne

16. Choice of
Fertiliser Matters
Urea-based fertilisers
generate more carbon
footprint than solid
ammonium nitrate.
BUT ……
Urea in production has
the lowest carbon
emission. So control of
emissions in soil e.g
urease inhibitors can
change the balance

17. Cost effective Choices?
Urease inhibitor – why?
If Urea applied when it is dry can lose 30% effective N in 72h
Nitrification inhibitor – why?
Prevents loss of ammonium to nitrate which is easily leached

18. Range of Carbon Footprints of Farms Supplying
Malting Barley

19. Example Carbon Footprints from HGCA Case Studies

20. Anaerobic digestion: Cradle to Cradle
BARLEY
MALT
BIO-FERTILISER
MALT EXTRACT

21. Farmer Sustainability Group meetings
What has been discussed so far
Topics identified
• Cover Crops
• Compost Use
• Water Use
• Precision Farming
• External certification
Issues:
• Implications of low carbon barley
supply contract
• Emphasise this will not cost
farmers more
• Must not disadvantage us in
securing the quality and quantity
of barley we procure
• Report back to our farmers about
how low carbon barley production
can be achieved

22. LEARN:
Chosen specialist
topic : You will learn
something new
Future Farmer Sustainability Group meetings
What You Should Expect
SHARE:
Experiences of
applying different
sustainable options
IMPROVE:
You must be enabled
to improve your ability
to implement
sustainable farming
practices