Embracing change: The ‘Collective Era’ post-Defra report

The new Defra report – ‘Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture’ has started a new era for carbon assessment, management, and reporting. We call this the Collective Era.

The ‘Wild West’

Before the Defra report, the landscape for carbon accounting was completely unregulated with no clear direction or guidelines. This meant that any tool or calculator, whether built on pseudo-science or muddled science, could gain popularity, especially if it was simple to use and gave the ‘right results’.

Many in the industry called this era ‘The Wild West’. After all, carbon calculators were only needed for box-ticking or self-vindication, and they were mostly free! The cost of ‘The Wild West’ has been low trust, misunderstanding, poor economics for most, poor environmental progress, and delayed or absent innovation by tools and calculators. Overall, we have an array of systemic issues, requiring urgent correction.

The new ‘Collective Era’

Following the Defra report, a paradigm shift is occurring.

The report is serving as a much-needed catalyst for change to a ‘Collective Era,’ a movement towards transparency, shared goals, and intentional, positive change.

This new ‘Collective Era’ is characterised by:

Trusted communication: the cornerstone of the transformation where every stakeholder trusts and communicates their data with transparency leading to cooperation, coordination, and cohesion across the supply chain.

Shared responsibility: a collective, motivated and engaged approach to tackling the issues within the food supply chain leading to shared success and overcoming resistance to change.

Innovation and creativity: through improved credibility, trust and mutual accountability the agricultural industry will benefit from increased capital flows that will take innovation and creativity to a new era.

Efficient resource optimisation: using resources wisely to enhance productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Resilient supply chain: building a robust food network that can withstand shocks and stresses.

Prosperous communities: ensuring the wealth and prosperity of rural areas by guaranteeing proper recognition and reward for good environmental outcomes in tandem with food production.

Valued natural capital: recognising and nurturing the environment as an asset and achieving environmental progress at the pace and scale required to reverse the effects of climate change.

Strong capital flow and investments: unleashing the true value of natural capital and securing greater private and public investment.

Informed decision making: using reliable and robust data and AI-driven scenario planning to achieve fast decision-making and enhance problem-solving capabilities

Effective public engagement and education: improving public perception through the communication of reliable and trusted environmental data.

Sandy: the only carbon accounting tool fit for the ‘Collective Era’

Sandy is the pioneering natural capital navigator developed by Trinity AgTech, and is the only carbon accounting tool fit for the collective era.

The recent Defra report has recognised its unmatched analytical rigor, alignment to global standards and practical useability.

Download an objective analysis of Defra’s report here.

The catalyst for change

The Defra Report is more than a document; it's a catalyst for an entire cultural shift within the industry. It marks the end of a costly era and the beginning of a marked growth in the progress and prosperity of agriculture.

It highlights not only the complexity of agriculture and its challenges, but also the solutions and strategies that can lead to a prosperous, sustainable future.

In this 'Collective Era’ we will see the blueprint for a system that values communication, collaboration, and long-term visioning.

As we move forward, the principles laid out in the Defra report will guide us towards a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious food supply chain.

If you are interested in learning more about how Sandy is uniquely fit for purpose, click here.