Agriculture is responsible for approximately 16% of Gloucestershire’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to DESNZ emissions data.
Agricultural is also huge contributor to the local economy, ‘The Gloucestershire Agri-food supply chain employs over 50,000 people, 14.9% of the workforce and generated a GVA of £1.39billion in 2017, or 8.8% of the local economy, both higher shares of the economy than seen nationally.’
The NFU have established the target for the sector to become carbon neutral by 2040, recognising the need to increase efficiency in farming practices, improve land management practices and the role of farms in renewable energy production and the bioeconomy.
The national food strategy published summer 2021 is clear that ‘without addressing the emissions of the food system, it will not be possible to meet those climate change obligations [laid out by law] and to contribute to mitigating climate change.’ Food security is another key and related issue increasingly being felt and which can complement efforts in boosting economic growth and climate change adaption and mitigation in Gloucestershire.
The opportunities from changing behaviours and practices in farming are not just found within reducing emissions but are also huge both for biodiversity, nature recovery, but also for flood reduction, and reductions in supply chain and transportation cost when providing local produce.
Gloucestershire’s local authorities are now keen to policies and areas of activity that can help to meet both farmers’ and the public sector’s net zero goals, and boost local sustainable food supply.