LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Public Consultation Survey - Soil & Substrate Management

Welcome to the LEAF Marque v17.0 Standard Public Consultation Survey

LEAF Marque is a leading global environmental assurance system recognising more sustainably farmed products. The LEAF Marque Standard is based on LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management (IFM) principles, and all LEAF Marque certified businesses are independently inspected.

The LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft #2 has been developed with input from multi-stakeholder working groups and focus groups, the LEAF Marque Technical Advisory Committee, research conducted by LEAF, and feedback from the first v17.0 Public Consultation.

This survey contains targeted questions on the changes made to the standard. We are particularly interested in your views on whether these changes are relevant, feasible, and auditable. We recommend you read the summary of changes before completing this survey.

Click here to view the LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft
Click here to view the LEAF Marque Standard v16.1

Public consultation on the LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft will open on the 1 October and runs until the 29 November. Please ensure we receive your comments by the close of consultation on the 29 November.

Please note the following:
• The updated Livestock Management section (called Animal Husbandry in v16.1) is now included in the v17.0 draft.
• The V17.0 draft is not final. There may be additional changes to the draft (for example, to incorporate feedback from the public consultations).
• The new guidance column is not final – there will be more guidance added.

For further information on the LEAF Marque Standard and other ways to provide feedback, please visit the public consultation website.

If you have any questions or require assistance in answering this survey, please contact LEAF (E: alexandra.davies@leaf.eco; T: +44 (0) 2476 413 911).

LEAF Marque will collate and review all comments received during the consultation. An anonymised summary of the comments and changes made to the Standard will be shared with all participants in the public consultation. No confidential information will be disclosed in the summary. LEAF Marque treats all information received from respondents with care.
1.Please input your name
2.Please input a contact email(Required.)
3.Please input your organisation
4.Please select the type of organisation you work for(Required.)
5.Please input your country(Required.)
6.Is your business LEAF Marque Certified?
7.2.1 There is a Soil Assessment. (Core)

Some of the Soil Management Plan requirements have been integrated into this new control point (2.1) to improve clarity. A requirement has been added for businesses to understand the soil degradation risks related to land topography/slope, weather conditions, crop type and growing/harvesting method. The soil map requirement has also been combined into this new control point.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
8.2.2 There is a Soil Management Plan. (Core)

The wording of control point 2.2 has been updated to improve clarity. This control point specifies strategies and targets to help support businesses with continuous improvement, including strategies to manage peat soils and targets to incorporate regenerative soil management techniques where appropriate and possible.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
9.2.3 Soil health is monitored annually. (Core)

2.3.d Soil organic matter is measured every 3-5 years using a method justified by the business. (Advanced)

2.3.e Soil organic carbon is measured every 3-5 years using a method justified by the business. (Advanced)

Two new Advanced requirements have been added to control point 2.3. Requirements now encourage businesses to measure the soil organic matter and soil organic carbon every 3 to 5 years. The wording of control point 2.3 has also been updated to improve clarity (i.e., ‘measured’ has been replaced by ‘monitored’).

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
10.2.3.f Where land is rented for less than 3 years, the business seeks information from the landowner about the soil condition and previous assessments of soil health. (Advanced)

An Advanced requirement has been added for businesses with short term rented land, to encourage more coordination with the landowner regarding soil health management.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
11.2.4 Strategies are implemented to improve soil health. (Core)

Control point 2.4 is new and has been added to ensure businesses are implementing strategies to improve soil health, including maintaining soil organic matter, minimising bare ground and minimising tillage/soil disturbance, where appropriate and possible. A new requirement 2.4b has also been added to encourage more regenerative practices on farm.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
12.2.7 There is a Substrate Assessment. (Core)

This new control point (2.7) has been added to allow businesses that grow in substrate to assess their substrate use, and to inform management planning.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
13.2.8 There is a Substrate Management Plan. (Core)

The Substrate Management Plan is new to v17.0. The wording of control point 2.8 has been updated to improve clarity. This control point specifies strategies and targets to help support businesses with continuous improvement related to sustainable substrate management.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
14.2.9 There is an awareness of sustainable alternatives to peat growing media. (Core)

2.10 There are strategies to transition to peat-free growing media. (Advanced)

Two new control points related to peat-free growing media have been added to the Soil and Substrate Management section. These requirements aim to support businesses to understand the sustainability challenges associated with using peat-based growing media, and encourage businesses to transition from peat to sustainable alternatives.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
15.2.11 There is an Integrated Nutrient Assessment and Management Plan. (Core)

The control point now contains two parts – an assessment and a management plan, where an assessment of nutrient requirements and nutrient use informs nutrient management planning. The control point requirements have been improved and the wording updated to specify strategies and targets to support continuous improvement to optimise nutrient use and minimise pollution.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?
16.2.11.c. Nitrogen Use Efficiency is measured annually. (Advanced)

A new Advanced requirement has been added for businesses to measure Nitrogen Use Efficiency to support nutrient application planning. This requirement will not be practical or appropriate for all businesses to implement, so it will not be mandatory for LEAF Marque certification.

Do you think these requirements are achievable, and auditable?