CAFRE marks commitment to LEAF Marque accreditation

College of Agriculture,

Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is celebrating 14

years of LEAF Marque acc-reditation.

LEAF (Linking Environment and

Farming) is a farm assurance scheme that shows food has been grown sustainably with care for the environment. This is strongly aligned with CAFRE’s commitment to sustainability.

The LEAF Marque assurance scheme sets rigorous standards for environmental sustainability which requires compliance across all enterprises on the farm.

The LEAF Marque audit, con-ducted by an independent auditor, reviews the activities across all of the CAFRE farms for compliance with LEAF Marque standard.

CAFRE LEAF Co-ordinator Ruth

Ruddell said: “CAFRE are de-lighted to have received LEAF Marque status for the 14th year.

“This demonstrates CAFRE’s commitment of the principals of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) on its farms.

“Sustainability is a key aspect of our farming practice and the LEAF Marque status continually drives us to improve each element of Integrated Farm Management.

“These elements include Organ-

isation and Planning, Soil Man-

agement and Fertility, Crop Health and Protection, Pollution Control and By-Product Management, Animal Husbandry, Energy Eff-iciency, Water Management, Land-scape and Nature Conservation and Community Engagement.”

Examples of the implementation of IFM at CAFRE include measuring soil health and soil carbon levels, carbon footprinting, pollinator margins, monitoring water usage, rainwater harvesting, recycling farm plastics and engaging with

partners in the monitoring of habitats and species such as breeding waders at the Glen-wherry Hill Farm.

Covid-19 restrictions resulted in the 2021 audit being conducted online.

Ruth said: “The audit consisted of uploading digital evidence, an online sustainable farming review, video evidence and online discussions.”

Further details about CAFRE’s LEAF Marque are available online at www.cafre.ac.uk

From September CAFRE will be providing an Honours Degree in Sustainable Agriculture, with pathways in Land Management and Agri-business validated by Ulster University.