Speciality Food Feb/March 2024

6 @specialityfood environmental impacts of agriculture UK adults want to see addressed on farms, with 37% selecting this, along with 39% choosing use of environmentally harmful pesticides, and water pollution chosen by 36%. The research exposed a widespread lack of knowledge of the terms regenerative, sustainable and nature-friendly farming, with only two in 10 people surveyed saying they either knew this type of farming “very well” or knew a “fair amount” about it. The findings build on similar research fromMarch 2023, which highlighted growing consumer worry about nature loss and a desire to halt its decline, with 67% of UK adults found to be concerned with the The survey of 2,250 adults, undertaken by Ipsos, revealed 56% of people would like UK farmers to concentrate on “preserving and enhancing nature and wildlife” when asked to select three froma list of six possible different farming priorities regarding the environmental impacts of farming. In addition, half of the respondents (50%) said they would also like farmers to preserve and enhance natural water systems, while 39% chose preserving and enhancing soil health in response to this same question. In fact, in research undertaken in December, halting biodiversity loss was one of the top three decline in the variety of UKwildlife compared to 50 years ago. Mark Varney, head of Fair to Nature, said, “These results reveal that one in four people think UK farming has a negative effect on nature and wildlife, but our research also highlights that UK consumers want our food and agricultural system to be a power for good, helping protect and preserve our landscape and wildlife. This is a golden opportunity for organisations to adopt nature- friendly farming and food production to respond to their customers’ wants and needs. “Making sense of what this means in practice can be confusing, especially with buzzwords such as ‘regenerative’ and ‘sustainable’ hitting our shelves. It needn’t be this complicated, as our new report shows. Setting out a proven approach for including nature as a key component within all food businesses’ UK supply chains, it demonstrates how, in the wake of terrifying declines in nature, we can - andmust - do something urgently to bring farmers, producers and consumers the clarity needed to enact real change.” Compiled by experts from the RSPB’s Fair to Nature scheme, which is the UK’s only certification with a focus on biodiversity, the report looks at the vital role of nature in underpinning our ability to do business. Fromproviding rawmaterials and energy, to the food, water, and clean air we need to survive, nature is the foundation of every aspect of human life. Biodiversity loss means these vital services are under threat. The report, Without Nature There is no Food, also outlines a proposed solution. That if every farmmade 10% of land available for good quality wildlife habitat, nature on farms could More than half of adults in the UKwould like farmers to prioritise farming practices which preserve and enhance nature and wildlife, according to new research commissioned by the groundbreaking food and farming certification scheme Fair to Nature. be restored and protected, ensuring that the essential services it provides are there for us all in the future. Mark Varney added, “By restoring the balance of nature in farming and increasing biodiversity, farmers reap the benefits of the RSPB Fair to Nature standard, with increased pollinator numbers, improvements in soil quality, and a reduction in the volume of chemicals required which saves themmoney. “Fair to Nature is a proven approach to restoring the balance of nature in farming, providing food businesses with the means to act on wildlife declines, empowering and supporting farmers with a viable way of protecting and restoring nature on their farms, and harnessing consumers’ buying power to deliver the transformative change needed in our food and farming system.” RSPB Fair to Nature has already achieved good results. One farmhas reported a 226% increase in breeding birds, a 213% increase in farmland butterflies, almost double the floral diversity, and up to 19 times more bees than typical farms. As outlined in the report, food brands and supermarkets who support RSPB Fair to Nature, agree to buy from certified farms like these and can display the RSPB Fair to Nature logo on the packaging of certified products, ensuring consumers are able tomake positive choices to spend their money in support of restoring critical farm ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Importer and distributor RH Amar has recently published its Impact Report, setting out clear ambitions for improved sustainability in the future, including its bid to be net zero by 2030. As part of RH Amar’s eco initiatives, 75% of its car fleet is now electric or hybrid, 50% of electricity used is from renewable sources, all RH Amar lorry drivers have received eco-driver training (travelling 27km more for every tonne of CO2 emitted), a sustainable funds pension scheme is in place, and 10% of profits are donated to charity each year. James Amar, strategy and CSR director, said, “Acting as a responsible business, fully committed to positive social and environmental impact, is something we want to become an integral part of our day-to-day operations at RH Amar. Launching our first Impact Report reflects this and helps keep us accountable. “We have an ambition to be a Net Zero Business by 2030, and our report highlights the steps and progress we are making to help realise that goal. It gives an insight into what we have achieved over the past year - whether it’s decarbonising our transport, reducing the amount of energy we use, or volunteering within our communities. It also includes what we still have on the to-do list such as further reducing the amount of plastic used in the brands we own.” RH Amar releases frst Impact Report Consumers want farmers to prioritise ‘nature-friendly’ farming