Tesco is calling on the UK government to launch a national data baselining framework to support green farming.

The measure is needed to “end the patchwork approach to data collection, and safeguard the country’s food security”, says the supermarket.

Its research found that nine in ten UK farmers want the government to do more to support farming resilience and a similar proportion want ministers to do more to back UK farming.

While more than two thirds of farmers want to do more to make their farms more environmentally friendly, almost all (96%) say inconsistent environmental standards and data reporting is a barrier.

Almost three in four farmers are reporting challenges using innovation in farming that would improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability.

“Soil health, critical to farm productivity and the ability to grow food was called out by 64% of farmers as a particular area of concern,” said the supermarket, which has extended its own green data baselining programme to help lamb and beef farmers better capture soil, water and nature information.

“British farmers are the backbone of our food system but they face unprecedented pressure, from rising costs and climate shocks to uncertainty over government policy,” said Tesco UK chief executive Ashwin Prasad.

“They tell us data is vital to measuring and driving improvements in sustainability and efficiency on farms, but the patchwork approach to data across the UK has resulted in a lack of a unified or standardised framework to track industry-wide progress or share insight and best practice.”

Tesco’s call for farming data improvements has been backed by among others former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters.

“Establishing and supporting a consistent national baselining framework is essential if we are to measure progress fairly, unlock new opportunities, and build resilience across the sector,” she said.

"The whole industry must work together to support farmers in this transition and ensure UK agriculture can thrive in the years ahead."

Soil Association Exchange chief executive Joseph Gridley added: “Farmers are already doing incredible work to be more sustainable — but they need a joined-up supply chain behind them.

“Only then can we unlock the full power of data and independent advice to help farms become more resilient, sustainable and profitable.”

In August Tesco launched a financial incentive scheme to support farmers achieve green ambitions.

Other supermarkets to launch environmentally friendly farming initiatives include Waitrose.

This autumn it announced a £1m investment in its green agriculture commitments, which saw it link up with the Soil Association and Regenified to support farmers in food production.

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