Biochar: Taking commercial British apple production to Net Zero

Commercial apple is a low emission crop but there are challenges at end of orchard life and in terms of the lifecycle carbon analysis (LCA) of the crop production. This Innovate UK funded project considered these and other challenges with actionable results for all growers. Learn more about Biochar as a solution to end of orchard life wood and understand why the LCA shines a light on packaging materials.

We are joined by:

• Ali Capper is the Executive Chair of British Apples & Pears Ltd, where she leads national advocacy and promotional work for the UK’s top‑fruit sector. A prominent horticultural grower from Worcestershire, she co‑runs Stocks Farm, producing apples, cider apples and hops.
• Rob Collins spent 30 years in the fruit industry, recently conducting pyrolysis trials and assessing pyrolysis units as part of the Innovate UK project. He is also co‑founder of Cobblers Farm in Worcestershire, where he has built a thriving farming enterprise from a 40‑acre greenfield site.

Agenda:

13:00-13:05 – Introduction

13:05-13:25 – Rob Collins will take us through the practicalities of the trial, from grubbing out the orchard to processing the material whilst making the process as accessible as possible for the grower.

13:25-13:45 – Ali Capper will present her finidngs on the lifecycle carbon analysis of the British grown Gala apple

13:45-14:00- Q&A

This event is part of our Agroecology at Scale Programme, part of the ground-breaking Farm to Fork Partnership between Ocado and Soil Association which has been established to help transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.

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Looking for useful resources to support farm planning?

The Soil Association's Farming and Land Use team have created a selection of useful technical guides: https://www.soilassociation.org/farmers-growers/low-input-farming-advice/guides-for-whole-farm-planning/