Greenhouse gas emissions, acidification and eutrophication potential all declined over the past decade, though reductions vary widely between regions.
England’s farms have reduced their environmental footprint over the past decade, according to new modelling that suggests greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution are on a downward trend.
The study, which assessed intensive farming systems between 2010 and 2021 over 72,000 km² of farmland, found median reductions of 18% in both short- and long-term global warming potential, alongside a 21% drop in acidification potential. Eutrophication potential — representing the nutrient run-off that can pollute rivers and lakes — fell by 13%.