The Colworth Farm Project - Putting sustainable agriculture to the test
Category: Agro-biodiversity for sustainable agriculture
Country: United Kingdom
Contact person:
David Pendlington
Sustainable Agriculture
Programme Co-ordinator
Unilever N.V.
PO Box 760
3000 DK Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0) 10 217 4645
Fax: +31 (0) 10 217 4149
For further information please email: farmproject@unilever.com
Overview:
A key research area in Unilever’s quest for new industry-defining innovation is agriculture, with major research programmes based at Colworth farm. The 500-hectare commercially-run farm at Unilever’s Colworth research site in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, England, plays an important role in the company’s Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. Since 1999, a 60-hectare section of the farm has been used as an experimental site for the Colworth Farm Project.
During the Colworth project the Unilever team has worked with wildlife organisations, farmers, farm consultants, government organisations and academics, to validate and compare ‘conventional’ and ‘experimental’ – potentially more sustainable – agricultural practices in a farm business environment. This involved risk to crops, which would not otherwise have been possible to test in a commercial environment. While some of the scenarios tested might not currently be practical for commercial farms, they were designed to challenge received wisdom and suggest insights into practical alternatives to conventional thinking and practice.
The Colworth project is proactive in its nature, in that it attempts to find practical solutions to environmental challenges currently being considered by governments, academics and non-governmental organisations. Significant legislative changes are already taking effect and will influence farming practice in the future.
During the Colworth project the Unilever team has worked with wildlife organisations, farmers, farm consultants, government organisations and academics, to validate and compare ‘conventional’ and ‘experimental’ – potentially more sustainable – agricultural practices in a farm business environment. This involved risk to crops, which would not otherwise have been possible to test in a commercial environment. While some of the scenarios tested might not currently be practical for commercial farms, they were designed to challenge received wisdom and suggest insights into practical alternatives to conventional thinking and practice.
The Colworth project is proactive in its nature, in that it attempts to find practical solutions to environmental challenges currently being considered by governments, academics and non-governmental organisations. Significant legislative changes are already taking effect and will influence farming practice in the future.
Aims:
Various aspects of farming were investigated and incorporated into the experimental programme. The aim was to provide representative information on crops relevant to Unilever (peas and oilseed rape) within a six-year commercial rotation which in the UK is typically cereal-dominated.
The project’s key focus was to examine the
impact of six scenarios:
The project’s key focus was to examine the
impact of six scenarios:
- Spring versus winter cropping
- Reduced nitrogen fertiliser
- Mixed rotation and cover crops
- Reduced pesticide applications
- Mechanical weeding
- Field margin management
To assess the impact of the various scenarios, the project team monitored the abundance and diversity of birds, plants and insects; levels of nitrate, phosphate and pesticides in surface water; crop yields and profits – all parameters included in the Unilever Sustainability Indicators. The environmental, financial and social costs and benefits of adopting potentially more sustainable practices have been assessed, and improvements identified.
Partners:
The project has a partnership approach at its heart. Working with individuals and organisations who have different skills and approaches but shared common objectives allows us to accelerate our progress towards sustainability. Moreover, the project continues to raise awareness and influence stakeholders’ views and behaviour, both externally and within our own business.
The work on the Colworth farm continues to be shared with the agricultural community with the aim of encouraging the development of sustainable agricultural systems. We have therefore put our approach and methodology in the public domain and are extending our dialogue with an ever-growing number of stakeholders.
Outputs:
- Spring cropping offered environmental benefits, through a reduction of inputs, elevated bird numbers and improved potential for weed control.
- Lower nitrogen rates reduced crop yield by an average of 19% but reduced leaching potential by 11% and improved weed control.
- Reducing nitrogen fertiliser did not reduce nitrate concentrations to a level below the 50 mg/l EC Directive limit for surface and ground waters. Other mitigation approaches, such as cover crops, offer opportunities to make further reductions.
- Diverse rotations, including broad-leaved crops, fallows and cover crops, improved habitats for birds, mammals and invertebrates. Growing cover crops also substantially reduced nitrate leaching.
- Band spraying has the potential to reduce pesticide leaching losses by more than the reduction in application rate – in the project pesticide concentrations in fi eld drains were reduced by more than 50%.
- Reduced pesticide inputs enhanced both biodiversity and the potential for the natural control of pest invertebrates. However constant reduction of herbicides led to dense pernicious weed populations that impacted on both crops and biodiversity.
- Mechanical weeding had little impact on pernicious weeds in high nutrient scenarios, and may damage populations of soil invertebrates. However, it worked well in low-fertility situations, and provided N-mineralisation benefits.
- Sympathetic hedgerow and field margin management increased bird and invertebrate numbers and improved crop pest control through its impacts on predatory invertebrates.
- Experimental yields were reduced by up to 60%. But in crops where experimental management was successful, wheat yields were comparable with those managed conventionally, and often provided better gross margins.
- The project has naturally evolved into a series of externally-funded sustainability projects, including trials of Controlled Traffi c Farming and an initiative to monitor nitrate leaching at catchment level.
- The project has attracted a wide variety of local, national and international visitors, including farmers, policy-makers, academics and school children.
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