British Sugar has announced a new initiative to support more sustainable sugar beet farming, committing funds to reward growers for improving environmental practices, Farmers Guide reported.
The company is working with Soil Association Exchange, which independently measures and verifies environmental progress across six areas, including soil health, water use, biodiversity and carbon impact.
Through the Exchange Market platform, UK growers can register their sustainability improvements and access funding aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to sugar beet production. Participation in the programme is voluntary.
Dan Green, Agriculture Director, British Sugar described the initiative as a first for the industry, encouraging growers to take part. He said farmers will receive 50 percent of the financial support upfront to help implement changes on their farms.
Green added that the programme is designed to help growers meet increasing environmental expectations while continuing to supply responsibly produced sugar. He said the platform provides a simple and independent way for farmers to track progress, compare results and receive guidance.
Joseph Gridley, CEO, Soil Association Exchange, said the initiative aims to reduce the risks for farmers adopting new practices by offering both financial and advisory support. He added that this could help speed up the shift towards more resilient and lower-emission sugar beet production in the UK.