Livestock businesses, including several large pig units, have joined LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) during the past 12 months, accessing the organisation’s certified assurance scheme as a way to improve farm sustainability and efficiency.
While the organisation is more usually associated with the arable sector, LEAF’s latest global impacts report highlights a “significant increase” in the amount of livestock now covered by its certified business programme.
The addition of several large pig units during 2014, in fact, resulted in a 400% increase in the number of animals on LEAF Marque farms, where a livestock health plan is being actively applied.
The Marque system is used to identify “more sustainably farmed products” and is linked to an integrated farm management (IFM) plan which covers areas such as soil and water management, pollution control, energy efficiency and conservation. Member businesses are independently measured and certified against IFM principles.
“It is extremely encouraging to see significant growth in LEAF’s global reach during 2014,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Caroline Drummond.
“The positive results highlighted in our report have been achieved through collaboration across the food chain involving our members, LEAF Marque growers, corporate partners and everyone who shares our vision of a world that is farming, eating and living sustainably.”
