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The value case for baselining England’s farmland

08 December 2025

This strategic case details how a national environmental baseline will unlock the full value potential from England’s farmland.

A co-ordinated, nation-wide action plan 

This strategic case details how a co-ordinated, nation-wide action plan and investment strategy for national environmental baselining will support farmer prosperity, accelerated growth of the UK carbon and nature market and resilience of the UK food system. 

It is the first value case of its kind, validating how environmental baselining of farmland in England will deliver value globally, nationally and across key sectors including the financial and food industries. And crucially, how baselining is a catalyst to driving improved data management and incentives for behavioural change across the system. 

By uniting behind a single vision, we can avoid fragmented efforts, maximise value for money, and deliver system-wide benefits. 

“If it’s done properly it could benefit everybody, farmers, policy, retail, because we’d actually know what’s going ​on rather than working on assumptions. It should be a shared dataset that helps decision making.​”

Tenant Farmer​, (Arable, East Midlands)

“…This kind of practical baselining can give farmers clarity, give retailers confidence, and give the whole sector a shared starting point for meaningful change.​”

Joseph Gridley, CEO, Soil Association Exchange

The case is grounded in evidence and expert insight. It covers:  

  1. The untapped opportunity ​from England’s farmland​ 

  1. System failures that are threatening progress​ 

  1. How to accelerate progress to deliver national environmental baselining​ 

  1. The shared action plan: Vision, strategy, investment for lasting impact​ and what to do next 

For more information or if you can contribute to this ongoing work, please contact [email protected]

Sarah Haynes
Head of Sustainability

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