In this LEAF Surgery session, we explore how environmental baselining can evolve from simple data collection into a powerful tool for decision‑making, farm resilience, and value creation across the supply chain.

We were joined by two expert speakers:

Sarah Haynes, Head of Sustainability at the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) – sharing insights from IGD’s work on the value of baselining England’s farmland and why coordinated, large‑scale approaches matter.
Carolien Samson, Head of Sustainable Farming at Oxbury Bank – discussing how baselining underpins investment decisions, risk management, and the transition to more resilient farming systems.

Key Takeaways

• Different stakeholders need different levels of data – from individual farms to national and global supply chains – causing fragmentation.
• Baselining offers both environmental and economic benefits, but greater alignment is needed to reduce duplication and reporting burdens.
• “Good enough and scalable” metrics are often more useful than “perfect” data.
• Strong governance and transparency build trust and unlock value for everyone.
• Farmers must stay at the centre, ensuring data genuinely supports on‑farm decisions and delivers real benefits.

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Our latest podcast takes a deeper dive into the roots of supporting tree health on-farm. Join Andrew Keyte , Farm Manager at LEAF Demonstration Farm, Ragley Home Farms, Dr Jake Morris who specialises in Plant Health Evidence & Analysis at Defra and LEAF Technical Officer, Eleanor Marks, as they talk tactics, technologies and teamwork for smarter, more integrated approaches to tree health management.

Download A Farmer's Guide to Ash Dieback here.

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In this episode, Elle Vercoe-Gibson, LEAF Marque Certification Manager, discusses the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review, how it works, what it delivers for farmers, it’s role within an Integrated Farm Management approach to more sustainable farming and finally, how it fits in with LEAF Marque certification.

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