Dunbia has moved into a new phase of its Plan Four Zero Activate initiative with the launch of Dunbia Activate Leaders, a farmer-led sustainability programme spanning beef and sheep enterprises across the UK.
Announced this month, the scheme brings together nine progressive supplier farms selected following a detailed review and recruitment process. The businesses, representing a range of beef and sheep systems, will demonstrate the practical on-farm potential for carbon reduction while helping to identify wider supply chain opportunities to build more resilient and profitable livestock units.
The Activate programme has already seen Dunbia, a division of Dawn Meats, collect and analyse more than 860 carbon footprints across over 1350 enterprises within its UK supply base. The data is being used to support a targeted approach to Scope 3 emissions reduction in the beef and lamb sector.
Under the new phase, participating farms will implement tailored action plans aimed at cutting emissions, increasing carbon sequestration and improving overall business efficiency. Alongside carbon metrics, the Activate Leaders programme will also measure and enhance biodiversity, soil health and water management, underlining the role of livestock farming in nature recovery and carbon storage.
Dunbia will partner with Soil Association Exchange to provide holistic environmental assessments, benchmarking and data-led insights to guide on-farm decision-making and monitor progress.
Dawn Meats Group has committed more than €100m to its Plan Four Zero sustainability strategy. Its latest update reported a 9% reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity across the group.
Gill Higgins, sustainability director at Dawn Meats Group, said the partnership with Soil Association Exchange would ensure a science-based approach.
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“Each of the nine farms will receive expert advice and insights, enabling evidence-based decisions and the adoption of techniques tailored to their individual businesses, including best practice soil health monitoring, multispecies swards and adapted grazing rotations,” she said.
Sarah Haire, head of agriculture at Dawn Meats Group, added: “Supporting our farmer suppliers as they navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape - through simple, practical on-farm actions - reflects our belief in what’s possible when we work together. We’re confident the Activate Leaders will demonstrate the impact collaboration can have in meeting shared climate goals.”
Joseph Gridley, chief executive of Soil Association Exchange, said the organisation would help farmers translate robust environmental data into practical change that benefits both the environment and farm profitability.
Updates and case studies from the programme will be shared via Dunbia’s social media channels under the hashtags #FarmGreen and #PlanFourZero.
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