Environmental Land Management Scheme: Test and Trials

Project Aims:

Defra envisages Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes to be the cornerstone of their new agricultural policy, influencing how they support the agricultural sector by rewarding farmers for the public goods they deliver.

Researchers and advisors from ORC are collaborating with the Soil Association (lead), Rothamsted and Organic Farmers and Growers within the test and trials element of ELM’s, by mapping public good delivery across two different landscape areas our aim is to test:

1. The usefulness of the PG tool for baselining public good delivery
2. The extent to which PG delivery is linked with;
   a) a set of practices, used extensively in both organic and non-organic farms and
   b) organic monitoring and other certification schemes
3. The development of an action plan across the test area targeting the changes required to improve public goods

ORC's Role:

ORC is contributing towards facilitating the delivery of the test, whilst offering essential skills for its delivery that includes further development of the PG tool to meet project requirements.

Current progress highlights:

So far, the two landscape areas have been selected and include (1) The Exe Valley in Devon, and (2) The Clun in Shropshire. Local advisors have been in contact with farmers, from each landscape area, to invite them to attend one of six introductory meetings aimed at informing and identify those interested in participating about the Test & Trial.

Project leader and partners:

Lead: Soil Association
Partner Organisations:

• Organic Research Centre
• Rothamsted (North Wyke)
• Organic Farmers and Growers

Previous Relevant Work:

PG tool

All sources of funding:

Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs