AIC recognises that climate change is a serious issue that must be managed responsibly While many of the members we represent are significant users of energy; they play a role in a farming industry which makes significant positive contributions to the carbon dioxide balance. We will play our part in developing tools and strategies which will enable UK agriculture to minimise its environmental footprint, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and optimise the industries' contribution to feeding and fuelling a growing population.

Key facts

UK agriculture, including the manufacture of its inputs, eg animal feeds and fertilisers, consumes just 1.8% of the country's total energy demands.

However, UK agriculture is responsible for producing 70% of the nation's calorific intake as food.

The energy value of UK food is 40% higher than the energy used to produce it.

AIC actions

• We have joined forces with other organisations to establish a task force to evaluate the research and measurement methods needed to manage greenhouse gas emissions from UK agriculture and identify best practice that should be promoted. The task force reports before the end of 2007.
• Our members, particularly in the feed and fertiliser manufacturing sectors, are operating to target reductions in energy consumption under EU Climate Change Levy Agreements.
• Work continues to seek fuel savings in logistics and packaging across all sectors.

Where does AIC stand on: Integrated Farming?

AIC recognises the need to establish an acceptable balance between efficient, profitable agricultural production and environmental protection. AIC fully endorses the concept of 'Integrated Farming', a science-based compendium of knowledge developed by the whole foodchain - from field to fork - with the research community and Governments.

The local management audit approach of integrated farming ensures farmers tailor input use and farm practice, for their particular weather, soil, topography etc. The process provides a sustainable solution to managing the farmed environment.

This concept is promoted by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) - an organisation fully supported by AIC and its members.

AIC believes that the integrated farming concept can accommodate both organic and conventional production systems of crops and livestock to create sustainable production methods for both food and non-food products.

Key facts

• For more than 15 years, many members of the agricultural supply industry have provided funding and expertise to develop the integrated farming concept.
• AIC members employ more than 3,000 advisers who have a pivotal role in advising farmers on a one-to-one basis.

AIC actions

• on-going and pro-active support of LEAF
• promoting the principles and benefits of integrated farming to farmers and governments
• Promotion of food security and the benefits of home production in the context of environmental concerns

Where does AIC stand on: Biosecurity?

AIC fully endorses the need for continuous and rigorous biosecurity to protect the health of UK-farmed livestock and the general public. It works actively with its members, and relevant authorities, to both develop and promote good practice in the farm supply industry and on farms. AIC acknowledges a particular responsibility as its members frequently visit farms to deliver supplies, eg feed, seed, fertiliser and crop protection products, as well as to purchase combinable crops.

Key facts

Biosecurity aims to prevent spread of disease (which may affect livestock and/or humans), either into or from, any place where farm animals are present, or have recently been present.

For certain 'notifiable diseases' (eg Foot & Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease) specific legislations exists to implement more stringent control measures for animal movement and farm supply management on affected holdings and in surrounding areas.

AIC actions

• Developed protocols which can be used and followed in response to notifiable disease outbreaks.
• In 2001, AIC developed with Defra, a protocol for deliveries to and collections from farms under Foot & Mouth restriction.
• In 2005 AIC produced detailed protocols for delivering feed to livestock farms in response to Avian Influenza threats
• Developed a more general protocol for staff of member companies visiting farms whilst notifiable disease restrictions are in place.
• Constantly reviews all protocols, with Defra and others, and makes them publicly available via the website.

These protocols reflect measures in terms of planning deliveries as well as actions needed when vehicles are on site.

Where does AIC stand on: Bioenergy?

AIC supports the concept of developing a UK-based biofuel industry as an additional market for farm produce and source of feed supplies. However, it also recognises the need for clear, long-term policy decisions to underpin the investments required to achieve the scale of production set by EU obligations on road transport fuel.

AIC also recognises the need for better understanding of the broader issues, especially the impact of this initiative on the animal feed industry, both in terms of economics and alternative uses of co-products.

Key facts

- Bioenergy comes in various forms:

• wood, wood chippings and straw
• pellets, or liquids, from wood
• biogas (methane) from anaerobic digestion of animal excrement or compostible material
• ethanol, diesel or other liquid fuels from processed plant material or waste oil

AIC focus is currently on the production of biodiesel and bioethanol/biobutanol from UK crops, particularly oilseed rape for biodiesel and wheat or sugar beet for bioethanol.

• Total UK fuel sales are 50 billion litres/year and currently split 50:50 petrol:diesel; but forecast to shift to 42:58 by 2020.
• The Road Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which requires 5.75% inclusion of renewable fuels by 2010 equates to 2.5bn litres of fuel. This will require in the region of 455,000 ha of wheat and 937,000ha of oilseed rape. How this is achieved will depend on annual, market-driven markets. However, imports are likely to play a major role.
• Co-products from biofuel production (based on the figures above) equate to over 1m tonnes of distillers' dried grains and 1.6m tonnes of oilseed rape meal - more than 300% of current usage.

AIC actions

• liaising with ADAS and others as studies are developed to investigate the opportunities and the implications on the use of co-products from the biofuel industry in the animal feed sector.
• advising on appropriate seed varieties, fertilisers and crop protection products for bio-energy/non food crops

Where does AIC stand on: Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF)

AIC supports the concept of Catchment Sensitive Farming as a means of ensuring good quality water, within acceptable limits in terms of sediment, nutrient or pesticide levels. As its member companies employ more than 3000 qualified advisors, it believes the supply industry has a key role to play in rolling out good practice and achieving change in on-farm behaviour required to achieve the goals of CSF.

AIC believes CSF is best achieved through the implementation of Integrated Farm Management where science-based decisions are made taking full account of the local conditions such as weather and topography. This is seen as the best way to meet the targets of the Water Framework Directive while continuing to practice efficient and profitable agriculture in the UK.

Key facts

• Catchment Sensitive Farming aims to tackle diffuse pollution from agriculture by encouraging changes in behaviour on-farm, which should help farmers prepare for the introduction of River Basin Management Plans, part of the Water Framework Directive.
• Launched in December 2005, CSF focuses on 40 English catchments identified by the Environment Agency, English Nature, Rural Development Service and Defra as being at risk due to nutrient, sediment or pesticide issues.
• As such CSF is a cross sector issue within AIC.
• Defra have made funds available to employ Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers (CSFOs) to coordinate stakeholders and disseminate best practice in each catchment.

AIC actions

• AIC sits on Defra's CSF Stakeholder Group and the Voluntary Initiative Partnership Group.
• Best practice advice, developed under VI has been shared within CSF.
• AIC members have played a significant role in defining catchments at risk from pesticides.
• AIC has emphasised measures already taken by industry, eg reduction of phosphorus in animal feeds, and existing nutrient management tools to help achieve CSFs aims.
• The best practice advice developed by the Voluntary Initiative (VI) with regard to pesticide use has been made available to CSF via the VI Partnership.
• Working on behalf of the animal feed, crop protection and fertiliser sectors, AIC is able to make a joined-up contribution to the debate.

Where does AIC stand on: Animal Feed safety?

AIC believes that compliance with the raft of legislation that exists within both the UK and the European Community is vital to protect human and animal health and welfare within the UK and European Community. As a key part of achieving this AIC is committed to managing a number of assurance schemes to meet increasing concerns from Government and other stakeholders on food and feed safety.

Key feed regulations

1. provisions for traceability (Regulation 178/2002 on general principles of food and feed law);
2. need for all feed business operators to apply HACCP procedures including suppliers of feed materials, whatever their origin (Regulation 183/2005 on feed hygiene)
3. provisions on undesirable substances (Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed).
4. Adherence with feed legislation (Regulation 882/2004) lays down how official controls ensure verification of compliance with feed and food law. It also includes requirement for controls to be carried out regularly, in accordance with a risk-based approach.

AIC actions

AIC actively manages and develops three key assurance schemes:

• Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) covers production and delivery of compound feed and feed materials to farms. It embraces all applicable national and EU legislation and HACCP;
• Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC) addresses the handling of grains, pulses and animal feed materials in the supply chain beyond the farm gate, whether destined for storage, feed, food, seeds or other uses;
• Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS) covers the link in the supply chain immediately before that covered by UFAS. It deals specifically with the supply of feed materials from the vast array of supply sources to their point of use.

All three schemes are independently audited by Certification Bodies that have been accredited by UKAS to EN 45011 Standard.