LEAF in 2011 farming • food • environment • countryside • communities From the President This year, farmers across the south of the UK have had to cope with an unexpectedly warm early spring followed by weeks without rain; further north the talk has been of cold weather and periods of concentrated downpour. This year, the world’s population has reached 7 billion. It all adds up to increasing pressures on our food supply against a background of variable, abnormal weather conditions. LEAF farmers lead the way in producing high quality livestock and growing sustainable crops. However, it is clear that farmers must embrace new technologies and grapple with plant genetics to increase output without further depleting the Earth’s natural resources. LEAF has had a busy year on farm and in getting their messages across to the public. Open Farm Sunday continues to attract thousands and I should like to take this opportunity to thank all those who make this special day such a success. In addition, there is now the “Let Nature Feed Your Senses” project with free farm access for children, the elderly and the disabled to enable them to touch, smell, hear, see and taste food as it is produced. Defra has recognised the value of the LEAF Marque by naming it as the standard to which all Government Departments and Agencies must adhere in their procurement of food. But there must be no resting on laurels as the Independent Farming regulation Task Force has set the next goal. Their report introduces the concept of “earned recognition” leading to a reduction in the number and nature of inspections. I am confident that, once again, LEAF farmers will rise to the challenge. Finally, I would like to thank Caroline and her team for their hard work throughout the year. Although it is a comparatively small charity, LEAF has a notable impact. I am confident that the Integrated Farm Management system will meet the challenge of producing our food whilst maintaining our natural resources. Baroness Hazel Byford, DBE 2 From the Chairman LEAF has come a long way in the 20 years since its inception and it has been my privilege, over the last two years as Chairman, to get much closer to what LEAF does with a view to driving it forward. Make no mistake, we are taking LEAF forward with a passion and a belief in what we do. This is not an easy time. We all face economic uncertainty, global challenges of feeding an increasing world population, CAP reform and consumers who want food produced ethically and sustainably. In the face of all that, LEAF has a unique working position. Firstly, with farmers to produce livestock and crops sustainably through Integrated Farm Management. Secondly, LEAF helps bring the results of good science into practical application on the farm and demonstrating best practice on our LEAF Demonstration Farms. Thirdly, LEAF has a unique position in talking to government and the European Commission, pointing out the environmental benefits of IFM, and in particular, the benefits of completing the LEAF Audit and compliance to the LEAF Marque standard. Finally, LEAF has a unique position to communicate with consumers and the wider community, through Open Farm Sunday and the Let Nature Feed Your Senses project, the vital role of farmers as food producers and custodians of the countryside. But, crucially, we need to get across to shoppers, to enliven and enlighten them by social networks, to whet their appetites for food coming from farmers they have read about, heard about, been tweeted about, visited on Open Farm Sunday, knowing they are ‘farmers who care’ and who will say to their retailer of choice – does this come from a LEAF farm? So, are we taking LEAF forward? You bet we are – and we want all of you, farmers, industry suppliers, researchers, environmentalists, politicians, food processors and retailers to continue to work with us to keep moving forward. Stephen Fell, MRICS FRAgS 3 www.frescagroup.co.uk LEAF really matters to Fresca. We work with farmers and growers every day. We see rst hand the benets of integrated farm management and implementing best practice – on UK land and abroad. As one of the largest and best-respected suppliers of fresh produce in the UK, our technical sta are strong advocates of the LEAF Marque scheme. We introduce, encourage and support growers with the scheme and indeed, we adopt IFM and LEAF principles on our own sites. That’s why we’re pleased to be associated with this publication and with LEAF. To learn more about Fresca Group and our constituent businesses, please see www.frescagroup.co.uk 4 From the Chief Executive We very much hope you will enjoy reading LEAF’s 2011 annual report. All our progress and successes would not have been possible without the support, engagement and practical help received from the many individuals and organisations who share our vision of developing and promoting sustainable farming methods. These include our members, trustees, farmers and the many individuals who make up the LEAF Board, advisory, strategy and technical committees who give so much of their time, energy and expertise. To each and everyone of you, thank you. I would also like to thank all our sponsors and funders for their continued and generous support over this important year. We have seen the economic, environmental and social case for Integrated Farm Management and LEAF’s work strengthened. Despite this progress, much remains to be done. We are looking to build our membership base and increase the volume of wonderful success stories from our farmer, college and corporate members. As we gear up to celebrate our 21st year and beyond, our core objectives remain www.frescagroup.co.uk the same today as when we were first formed in 1991. In these economically strained times, never before has our work been so important. We remain true to LEAF really matters to Fresca. We work our mission: to ensure a plentiful supply of affordable, safe food, working hand in hand with a thriving environment and true societal engagement. with farmers and growers every day. We see rst hand the benets of integrated We will continue to build on our core work – strengthen our Demonstration Farm farm management and implementing network, develop technical tools for farmers and reach out to the general public best practice – on UK land and abroad. through Open Farm Sunday and Let Nature Feed Your Senses. We have built up our small team of dedicated staff at Stoneleigh and I would like to say a huge As one of the largest and best-respected suppliers of fresh thank you to them all for their hard work that has delivered the tremendous produce in the UK, our technical sta are strong advocates results you will read about in this report. of the LEAF Marque scheme. We introduce, encourage and support growers with the scheme and indeed, we adopt We look forward to working together with you during our 21st year and beyond! IFM and LEAF principles on our own sites. That’s why we’re pleased to be associated with this publication and with LEAF. To learn more about Fresca Group and our constituent businesses, please see www.frescagroup.co.uk Caroline Drummond, MBE 5 LEAF through the seasons Here are some of our 2011 highlights SPRING 2011 The Open Farm Nearly 200 Tom Hills joins Farm visits for Sunday website farmers the LEAF team the elderly, goes live with attended 16 to help with disabled and many farmers workshops all communications disengaged registering to over the country and marketing. continue as part open up on the to help host of the Let Nature 12th June 2011. farmers put on Feed Your Senses safe, engaging project. and fun events. SUMMER 2011 Reducing Our annual LEAF With support BBC Countryfile the carbon Demonstration from ASDA, presenter, Adam ‘hoofprint’ of Farmers training LEAF develops Henson lent his dairy cows, was event took place a new guide to support to Open one of the issues around Bristol. help farmers Farm Sunday we tackled at We had a fun improve the and hosted our our Technical packed two days performance, media video, Field Day, held of farm visits, health and which went with Harper talks and lively long term on Mail Online Adams UC. discussions. sustainability of reaching 40 their soils. million people. 6 SPRING 2011 We hold a series Some 50 college The Virtual Farm LEAF gets of training and university Walk is updated social! We start events for respresentives to include a new tweeting, set up farmers on attend our African Fields a great blog page water auditing, annual College section featuring and encourage communications Day held this pineapple and our members skills and hosting year at the Royal green bean to ‘like’ us on exciting and Agricultural growers in Kenya facebook! engaging farm College. and Ghana. SUMMER 2011 visits. An amazing The first ever Sodexo, one Our EISA 120, 000 people African Open of the largest partners visited visited farms Farm Sunday catering the UK for a two on Open Farm event took place companies in day study tour. Sunday. A huge in Kenya! Over the UK, sign It was good to thank you to 359 students and up to LEAF and strengthen our the 362 farmers 116 local farmers encourage all European links who opened attended. It was their suppliers and hear about their gates this a really fantastic to become IFM across year, despite the event. LEAF Marque Europe. weather! accredited. 7 LEAF through the seasons Here are some of our 2011 highlights AUTUMN 2011 Over 100 host farmers, Over 70 people LEAF Marque was sponsors and visitors attended our second recognised in Defra’s attended a meeting in annual Let Nature Feed plans for food London to celebrate this Your Senses conference.