How can collaboration between farmers and researchers drive real change on the ground? In this LEAF Digs Deeper session, we explore how co-designed research is helping to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical farming decisions.

We’re joined by:
- Nick Down – Farm Manager at Yattendon Estate and Head of Sustainability at Velcourt Ltd.
- Dr Alice Mauchline – Associate Professor of Agricultural Ecology and Education at the University of Reading.

Together, they discuss the power of farmer-led innovation and why involving farmers from the very beginning is key to creating research that is relevant, practical, and impactful.

In this session, we cover:
- Why farmers are best placed to identify real-world challenges and shape research priorities.
- The importance of co-designed research for practical, on-farm application.
- How collaboration between farmers, researchers, and stakeholders leads to shared learning and fresh perspectives.
- The balance between scientific rigor and real-world farm constraints.

We also introduce a new ADOPT-funded project involving LEAF, Demonstration Farmers, and an Innovation Centre. This initiative explores how cover crop data can be used to optimise nutrient management and reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen - while maintaining crop performance.
If you're interested in sustainable farming, applied research, and innovative approaches to agriculture, this session is not to be missed.

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Our latest LEAF Digs Deeper session takes a closer look at the vital role agriplastics play in modern farming and the growing need to improve how they are recovered and recycled.

From silage wrap to crop covers, agriplastics are essential tools for productivity and efficiency. However, as their use continues, so do the challenges around responsible disposal and recycling.

In this session, we explore:
- How better on-farm sorting, storage, and handling can significantly boost recycling outcomes
- Why used agriplastics should be treated as a valuable, recoverable resource not just waste
- The practical and financial barriers farmers currently face when managing plastic waste
- The need for stronger collaboration across industry, government, and supply chains to scale effective recycling systems

A key theme throughout is the importance of practical, joined-up solutions—approaches that fit the realities of farm businesses while moving agriculture towards a more circular and sustainable future.

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Climate-Smart Dairy: LEAF Digs Deeper – Key Insights

In this LEAF Digs Deeper session, we explore how climate-smart dairy practices are being applied on the ground to improve efficiency, resilience, and environmental performance. Featuring insights from Zoe Barker (University of Reading) on the SmartDairy Project and Sven Koops (CEDAR), the discussion highlights how better use of data, precision technologies, and herd management can reduce emissions, improve animal health and longevity, and boost farm efficiency—often without major infrastructure investment. The session also explores the role of policy stability, shared risk, and clear communication with consumers. Climate-smart dairy is about practical, data-driven decisions that deliver lasting benefits for farms, supply chains, and the environment.

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In this LEAF Surgery session, we explore how environmental baselining can evolve from simple data collection into a powerful tool for decision‑making, farm resilience, and value creation across the supply chain.

We were joined by two expert speakers:

Sarah Haynes, Head of Sustainability at the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) – sharing insights from IGD’s work on the value of baselining England’s farmland and why coordinated, large‑scale approaches matter.
Carolien Samson, Head of Sustainable Farming at Oxbury Bank – discussing how baselining underpins investment decisions, risk management, and the transition to more resilient farming systems.

Key Takeaways

• Different stakeholders need different levels of data – from individual farms to national and global supply chains – causing fragmentation.
• Baselining offers both environmental and economic benefits, but greater alignment is needed to reduce duplication and reporting burdens.
• “Good enough and scalable” metrics are often more useful than “perfect” data.
• Strong governance and transparency build trust and unlock value for everyone.
• Farmers must stay at the centre, ensuring data genuinely supports on‑farm decisions and delivers real benefits.

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Our latest podcast takes a deeper dive into the roots of supporting tree health on-farm. Join Andrew Keyte , Farm Manager at LEAF Demonstration Farm, Ragley Home Farms, Dr Jake Morris who specialises in Plant Health Evidence & Analysis at Defra and LEAF Technical Officer, Eleanor Marks, as they talk tactics, technologies and teamwork for smarter, more integrated approaches to tree health management.

Download A Farmer's Guide to Ash Dieback here.

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In this episode, Elle Vercoe-Gibson, LEAF Marque Certification Manager, discusses the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review, how it works, what it delivers for farmers, it’s role within an Integrated Farm Management approach to more sustainable farming and finally, how it fits in with LEAF Marque certification.

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In this episode, we discussed SEAMS (Sus­tain­abil­i­ty in Edu­ca­tion and Agri­cul­ture using Mix­tures), a four-year project funded by the Esme Fairbairn Foundation and coordinated by the James Hutton Institute, as the project draws to a close. The project focused on crop mixtures and aimed to develop, promote and implement crop species mixtures as a sustainable crop production system for Scotland and as a resource for knowledge exchange on food production, agricultural ecology and environmental sustainability. We were joined by the project lead of SEAMS, Rob Brooker from the James Hutton Institute and Thomas Veitch from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who was involved in running trials as part of the project. In this discussion, Rob and Thomas reflected on the project's outcomes and legacy and looked at the next steps for crop mixtures within sustainable crop production systems.

The data platform mentioned in the podcast is already available here, but will be officially launched at this year’s Arable Scotland in July

For more information on the SEAMS project please visit:
https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/projects/seams-sustainability-education-and-agriculture-using-mixtures

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Join Elle Vercoe-Gibson, LEAF's Certification Manager talking through the LEAF Marque Standard v16.0. Focussing on the latest changes to the Standard, what these changes mean for LEAF Marque growers and touching on a general overview of LEAF Marque as a whole.

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