The ATPI Group has signed the first UK-based project to its ATPI Halo environmental sustainability portfolio.
The Leicestershire-based Blaston Regenerative Farming initiative aims to improve soil health, promote biodiversity and create a sustainable food-production business, while at the same time sequestering carbon.
The project has been pioneering sustainable crop production since 2007, when the 400-hectare Blaston Estate was inherited by current owner Hylton Murray-Philipson.
He decided to switch away from intensive farming after seeing the damage intensive rotation of wheat and oil seed rape was doing to his soil.
Working with independent agronomy group, Indigro, the farm has transformed its fortunes by having a more diverse crop, using a traditional ‘no plough’ method, introducing livestock and leaving fields fallow across 230 hectares.
It is estimated that in the 2020-2021 season alone, the project captured 5,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the farm has dramatically cut nitrogen fertiliser use and seen a seven-fold increase in worm numbers, proving the organic health of the soil.
ATPI Halo Director, Pippa Ganderton, said: “Respira arranged an opportunity for us to visit Philipston Estate, Blaston, Leicestershire, in July this year. Ironically, it was on the hottest day of 2022. As we were guided around this impressive estate and shown the detail of the many initiatives they are undertaking to drive sustainable farming methods, climate change was front of mind.
“Supporting nature-based projects in developing nations, that suffer the most devastating impact of climate change, remains our prime focus. However, to be part of such a valuable, innovative agricultural project close to home is of huge importance to ATPI. The creation of nutritious food whilst reducing the carbon footprint must be the way forward for farming all over the world.”
ATPI Halo is a CO2 measurement, reduction and offsetting service.
