In the 2010 Farming Futures survey, 38% of all farmers surveyed said they were already affected by climate change and nearly 60% expect to be affected in the next ten years. Caplor Farm is committed to increasing the environmental sustainability of its activities, thus contributing to a low carbon society. The farm is striving to deliver carbon savings across the carbon hierarchy: avoid, reduce, substitute, offset.
1. Avoid unnecessary emissions
- Grass-fed Hereford cattle: We emphasise grass-fed livestock to avoid reliance upon more fossil-fuel intensive alternatives such as grain.
- Carbon footprinting placement: In March-May 2010 Jack Rickard analysed the farm’s carbon footprint and made practical recommendations for how we can further reduce Caplor’s carbon emissions – you can read more here.
- Food miles: Our partnership with Higgins ensures that our potatoes are processed and sold relatively locally – thus avoiding unnecessary ‘food miles‘.
- Teleworking: Where appropriate, we enable employees to work from home in order to avoid unnecessary carbon emissions from commuting to work. We have recently been awarded a £1,000 Sustainable Travel Grant from Herefordshire Council to purchase IT equipment, in order to facilitate teleworking.
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Reduce emissions
- Machinery: We have invested in more fuel-efficient tractors and larger machinery, thus reducing fuel use by approx. 10%.
- Minimal tillage: Through adopting a system of reduced tillage cultivation, we are reducing emissions by CO2 by 1ton / ha, as well as decreasing soil erosion.
- Training: Farm-based employees have been on Driving Efficiency courses, to ensure that fuel use is minimised through good driving behaviour.
- Soil: We have made productive use of 25,000 tons of organic and waste materials to reduce our use of fossil-based fertilisers; for instance, incorporating woodchip compost which would otherwise go to landfill. In the past we have conducted extensive trial work with Defra on incorporating waste materials (eg plasterboard), and researched and used sewage cake.
- Energy Efficiency: Increasing the energy efficiency of our property through renovation, and making landlords aware of grants available for such activity.
3. Substitute with renewables 
- Wind power: The farm has a 15kW onsite wind turbine, which was shortlisted for the 2010 NEMEX Renewables Innovation Award.
- Solar electric: A 9.7kW solar PV system is generating green electricity. Caplor is also made efforts to learn from solar projects in The Gambia.
- Solar hot water: An evacuated tube solar thermal system heats the water for the onsite showers.
- Caplor Energy: The farm hosts Caplor Energy, a business which installs small-scale renewable energy systems within the West Midlands and Wales.
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4. Offset unavoidable emissions
- Jatropha in The Gambia: The farm is working with the international charity Concern Universal and Fownhope Carbon Rationing Action Group (CRAG) to support an innovative Jatropha Pilot Project in The Gambia. The project aims to: (a) explore ways in which Jatropha can be used to maximize benefit for rural Gambian communities; and (b) to investigate the carbon offsetting potential of the plant.
- Trees: Over 400 trees have been planted around the farm since 2002.
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Other pro-environmental activities
- Research: We have worked with Nottingham University to research biofuel production in the locality.
- Recycling: We used approx. 700 tons of recycled stone in recent build projects to reduce heavy mining need. We send waste oil and plastic for re-use/recycling.
