The TFA has joined forces with Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), the Country Land & Business Association and The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to publish an open letter calling on the agricultural supply chain to treat farmers and growers fairly as businesses work to reduce their carbon emissions.
Growing pressure on farm businesses
The letter, led by SLE and CAAV, warns that farmers are facing increasing pressure to meet evolving compliance requirements linked to sustainability, regenerative farming and emissions reduction, often without enough consideration of the costs, risks and practical implications for their businesses.
The focus on carbon insetting
Carbon insetting, where buyers claim carbon reductions delivered by their suppliers, is recognised as an appropriate way to support supply chain decarbonisation under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol’s scope 3 emissions framework. The signatories agree it can be a positive tool, provided it is delivered fairly, transparently and with integrity.
Four key issues for buyers to address
The letter calls on buyers to ensure:
- Adequate payment for carbon outcomes, in addition to payment for the product itself
- Free, prior and informed consent, with time given to consider agreements and seek advice
- Permanence, with carbon removals meeting recognised standards and monitoring requirements
- Ownership, with farm data and unsold carbon outcomes remaining the property of the supplier
Good contract practice and devolved policy
The letter also stresses the importance of good contract practice, including making sure farmers are not discouraged from seeking advice, that tenants can discuss agreements with their landlords, and that clear dispute resolution processes are in place. It calls for recognition that agricultural policy is devolved, so agreements should reflect the laws and frameworks relevant to Scotland and Wales rather than assuming an England-only approach.
The TFA’s response
TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, backed the concerns raised for farmers and growers. He said it is wholly inappropriate for processors and retailers within farm produce supply chains to use their leverage to gain unfair advantage and that good practice must be built into the developing carbon insetting environment to ensure fairness for all participants. He added that insetting arrangements need to understand and respect the contractual and statutory obligations that exist between owners and occupiers of agricultural land, including within farm tenancies.
Members can read the full open letter here.
This blog was written by Julia Meadows, TFA Communications and Events Coordinator.
Further Resources from the TFA:
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Media Enquiries
For press and media enquiries about any of these stories, please contact Julia Meadows, TFA Communications and Events Coordinator by calling TFA head office on 0118 930 6130 or 07887 777157.
