In this LEAF Surgery session, we explore how environmental baselining can evolve from simple data collection into a powerful tool for decision‑making, farm resilience, and value creation across the supply chain.

We were joined by two expert speakers:

Sarah Haynes, Head of Sustainability at the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) – sharing insights from IGD’s work on the value of baselining England’s farmland and why coordinated, large‑scale approaches matter.
Carolien Samson, Head of Sustainable Farming at Oxbury Bank – discussing how baselining underpins investment decisions, risk management, and the transition to more resilient farming systems.

Key Takeaways

• Different stakeholders need different levels of data – from individual farms to national and global supply chains – causing fragmentation.
•  Baselining offers both environmental and economic benefits, but greater alignment is needed to reduce duplication and reporting burdens.
•  “Good enough and scalable” metrics are often more useful than “perfect” data.
•  Strong governance and transparency build trust and unlock value for everyone.
•  Farmers must stay at the centre, ensuring data genuinely supports on‑farm decisions and delivers real benefits.

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