What is Farming for Carbon and Nature?
Farming for Carbon and Nature (FCN) is a programme that enables universities and colleges to be sector leaders by supporting farms on university and college owned land to implement more regenerative practices – reducing emissions, sequestering carbon and improving biodiversity.
Since 2021, we have worked with over 35 universities, colleges, farms, food & farming organisations and charities, and funding bodies to develop and pilot the FCN programme, ensuring it meets the needs of the tertiary education sector and other stakeholders involved. Grant funding has been provided by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and NEIRF.
What has the programme achieved?
- Formed an advisory group, including representatives from EAUC, Gold Standard, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Sustain, The Energy Consortium, National Federation of Young Farmer’s Clubs, the pilot farms, senior soil and biodiversity academic staff and sustainability leads from several universities.
- Commissioned Farm Carbon Toolkit to write a report on the ‘financial and climate impacts of regenerative farming practices’.
- Sent Freedom of Information requests to understand UK university and college farmland ownership (quantity and type of management).
- Organised an event at the regenerative farm, FarmED, for senior sustainability staff at 22 universities and colleges to help shape the post-pilot programme and ensure it meets the needs of the tertiary education sector.
