The NFU’s 80 per cent horticultural climate change levy scheme has reduced carbon emissions in the UK sector drastically in its first year of operation and saved growers in the protected crops sector millions of pounds.

By committing to carbon reduction targets, horticultural businesses have reduced their carbon emissions by 50,000 tonnes in the first year. Some 120 businesses have signed up to the scheme to cut their energy use by more than four per cent and this saved them a total of £5 million on fuel bills and secured the 80 per cent climate change levy discount worth an additional £1.5m. The NFU calculated this to be worth an average £42,000 a site.

“This is a terrific example of how the NFU can work with the industry to cut CO2 emissions and in turn achieve significant cost savings. These achievements are just for the first year and we are confident the industry can make further year-on-year savings before the scheme ends in 2013.”

In order to qualify for the 80 per cent reduction, growers had to sign a climate change agreement and then prove they had reduced their relative energy consumption. Businesses will have to reduce their energy consumption by 12 per cent over a six year period to maintain the CCL reduction. Under CCL rules, businesses cannot get agreements with government on an individual basis. They must to it collectively via a representative body, in this instance the NFU.

The 80 per cent reduction replaced the 50 per cent reduction for horticultural businesses which ran for five years to March 2006.

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