FUW Gwent and Glamorgan webinar puts spotlight on farm carbon footprinting

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent and Glamorgan branches are hosting a special carbon footprinting webinar, to help farmers understand how they can reduce their agricultural emissions and how carbon footprints can be calculated.

The webinar, which is open to all, is held on Thursday 24 February, 7.30pm via Zoom.

Guest speakers on the night include:

• Louise McNicol, who is a PhD student at Bangor University co-funded by Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships 2 and Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), will talk about her work on carbon calculators, reducing GHG emissions from livestock and enhancing sequestration. Her PhD is focused on investigating different strategies for beef and sheep farms in Wales to achieve net zero.
• Also joining the webinar as a guest speaker is Hugh Martineau, Head of Sustainability at Map of Ag and also part of the Beacons Water Group - a farmer-led initiative facilitated by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. As part of the Beacons Water Group, Hugh has helped to establish the Net Zero Farming, European Innovation Partnership project which is reviewing the current GHG emissions balance across the 6 farms. Hugh will share details about this project.
• FUW Policy officer Teleri Fielden will give an update on the FUW’s work regarding threats and opportunities for agriculture within carbon trading, as well as an overview of the Woodland, Peatland and Soil Carbon Codes. 

Chairing the webinar is FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman who said:

“Whilst Wales is already one of the most sustainable places in the world to produce red meat and dairy, we have a responsibility, like every industry,  to further reduce our emissions. We also need to have the data ready to prove our credentials and progress. Carbon footprinting tools can help us to do that, coupled with increasing and being rewarded for all the various carbon stores we have had on our farms for generations- from soils to hedgerows. 

“We wish to see Wales’ family farms demonstrating they are part of the solution to Net Zero and biodiversity loss, as opposed to being purchased by corporations to greenwash their way to Net Zero. I’m delighted to chair this webinar and discuss the many issues surrounding carbon storage and footprinting with the excellent panel we have lined up.”

Speaking ahead of the event, FUW Gwent and Glamorgan County Executive Officer Sharon Pritchard said:

“There are many questions surrounding carbon storage and farmers are keen to do their bit in reducing agricultural emissions. With this webinar we hope to be able to answer as many questions as possible to help the industry move forward and shed some light on this very complex topic. The event is open to all and I hope many of you will join us.”

To join the webinar, please register here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WbYS4G3mRP2ah3rPqe_1Sg