The Science
Exchange has been developed by a team of industry experts, scientists and farmers resulting in a full methodology across 6 key indicators to measure a whole farms impact on the environment.
Our landmark Data to Decisions Report
Our first report, unlocking insights from the most comprehensive holistic environmental measurement on UK farms. Covering 685 farms, up and down the country, the report shows the power of data to transform UK farming, ensuring we are delivering for both food production and nature.
How we approach our science
Measuring environmental outcomes is complicated. To ensure the credibility and constant improvement of how we measure sustainability in Exchange, we always:
Make sure our measurement methodology is open to critique
Commission a leading scientist to review our methodology each year
Work with farmers, scientists and industry to ensure the metrics work for everyone
Peer review the methodology by an independent scientific advisory panel
The methodology
After working with over 500 farmers in 2022/2023, we've taken everything we've learnt and significantly upgraded the methodology for 2024. The result is an approach that not only improves our accuracy, but is data that we believe will make farmers more resilient and unlock new funding opportunities for the industry.
Download the current 2024-25 methodology
“It is fundamental that farmers and growers understand their impacts on our environments. Baselining and data recording on all of their actions can only better inform them to be better food producers. Using the metrics in the new Exchange protocol will not only improve our natural environments and the impacts that we have on them, but will also make farm businesses more resilient”
Jake Fiennes
General Manager - Conservation
Holkham Estate
Unlike other providers who might just use remote sensing to assess your farm, Exchange validates this with on farm surveys and field sampling. Combining the best of both worlds.
The metrics
You can see here the full list of metrics that we cover on every farm that goes through the service. If accessing Exchange for free via 'Exchange Explore' then some metrics may not be included.
Soil Health | Biodiversity | Water | Animal Welfare | Social | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soil Cover % | Hedgerow assessment | Flood risk prevention | Welfare outcomes | Land access | Sequestration in soils |
Soil Texture | UKHAB 2.0 habitat mapping | Nutrient runoff | Antibiotic usage | Community engagement | Sequestration in woodlands |
C:N Ratio | Non-farmed habitat ratio | Nutrient balance | Food production | Sequestration in hedgerows | |
pH | Biodiversity connectivity | Water usage | Sequestration in trees outside of woodlands | ||
Earthworm count | Grassland/arable flora species abundance | Emissions | |||
Bulk density | Bird species abundance | ||||
VESS | Biodiversity practice score | ||||
Soil organic matter |
Soil Health | Biodiversity | Water | Animal Welfare | Social | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soil Cover % | Hedgerow assessment | Flood risk prevention | Welfare outcomes | Land access | Sequestration in soils |
Soil Texture | UKHAB 2.0 habitat mapping | Nutrient runoff | Antibiotic usage | Community engagement | Sequestration in woodlands |
C:N Ratio | Non-farmed habitat ratio | Nutrient balance | Food production | Sequestration in hedgerows | |
pH | Biodiversity connectivity | Water usage | Sequestration in trees outside of woodlands | ||
Earthworm count | Grassland/arable flora species abundance | Emissions | |||
Bulk density | Bird species abundance | ||||
VESS | Biodiversity practice score | ||||
Soil organic matter |
Independent science advisory group members
The science advisory group reviews the methodology each year before it is published. It is an independent group working towards ensuring Exchange is backed by rigorous and up to date science and chaired by Dr Abigail Barker.
Name | Job |
|---|---|
Dr. Siobhan Mullan | School of Veterinary Medicine - University College Dublin |
Prof. Sir Charles Godfray | Director, Oxford Martin School |
Prof. Andy Neal | Microbiologist, Soil Systems Research Scientist. Net Zero and Resilient Farming - Rothamsted Research |
Helen Avery | Director, Nature Programmes and GFI Hive - Green Finance Institute |
Prof. Rich Mitchell | Professor - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit |
Prof. Jeremy Webb | Director - National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
Ensuring cross-industry collaboration
We have partnered with the Sustainable Food Trust's Global Farm Metric as official delivery partner in the UK.
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The Global Farm Metric is a common framework to understand, measure and monitor the state of farming systems globally. The GFM enables organisations working towards a just transition to support farmers to align around a shared view of farm-level sustainability. The partnership enables further close alignment together with on-farm trials and an alignment on two core principles of:
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Always being farmer first
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Whole farm, holistic measurement is fundamental
