A Norfolk sugar beet grower is trialling low carbon liquid fertiliser as it seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the crop.
The Holkham Farming Company took its first delivery of LoC liquid fertiliser from crop nutrient specialists Omex Agriculture earlier this year – the first shipment of the product into the UK – marking a significant milestone in the estate’s farming future.
The LoC Green liquid fertiliser, which has an approximate 70% lower carbon footprint than its conventional alternative, will be applied to sugar beet. The application is part of the first on-farm trial of its kind in the UK.
The pioneering trial, led by Holkham, forms part of the estate’s wider goal of becoming a carbon negative estate by 2040. The trial will provide valuable insights and data in comparison to traditional fertiliser application.
Estate ambition
This trial reflects a growing focus on reducing farming’s carbon footprint while maintaining productivity and crop quality. Liquid fertiliser can also help optimise nutrient management, enabling greater accuracy, consistency and traceability, says Omex.
The trial at Holkham will generate valuable, real-world data to support informed decision-making around the role of low carbon fertilisers within commercial crop production.
Holkham crop production manager Henry Etherington says: “Globally, the UK is a relatively small player in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but has been, and I think always should be, seen as an example for what can be achieved. LoC Green liquid fertiliser is a significant investment for Holkham, but we believe it is a risk worth taking. If successful, it could represent a meaningful step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the food we grow here.”
Industry shift
Laura Wood, Omex Agriculture’s business growth director, is responsible for the company’s overall sustainability strategy. “This first delivery marks an important milestone, not just for Omex, but for the wider food supply chain,” she says. “Farmers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising productivity, and low carbon fertilisers have the potential to become an important part of that journey. We’re proud to be partnering with Holkham to test this approach in a commercial farming environment and build the evidence needed to support wider adoption across the food production industry.”
Practical evidence
The Omex LoC Green fertiliser range has been developed as part of the company’s wider sustainability strategy, targeting measurable carbon reductions without compromising nutrient efficiency or reliability.
With increasing pressure on agriculture to demonstrate progress towards carbon reduction targets, trials such as this represent an important step in validating practical solutions at farm level.
Ms Wood said Omex was expanding its partnership approach with other progressive farming businesses, including Holkham, to support the transition towards more sustainable crop nutrition systems.