NatureCheck empowers farmers to enhance biodiversity
Habitat loss and declining biodiversity and the subsequently negative impact on essential services like pollination, nutrient cycling and pest control increasingly threaten our ecosystems. With its ambitious NatureCheck programme, Arla Foods equips its farmer owners with a tool to improve biodiversity on farm and promote a sustainable system where food production and biodiversity goes hand in hand.
In Denmark, agricultural landscapes cover 62% of the land area, making farmland a key focus for biodiversity preservation efforts. Worldwide, more than one in three species faces extinction.
The loss emphasises the need for innovative solutions that balance productivity and biodiversity preservation.
NatureCheck will by 2026 be adopted by all organic Arla farms in Denmark and is a vital tool in the progress towards a more sustainable system where food production and responsibility for environmental resources go hand in hand
Helping farmers check in on biodiversity
Assisted by SEGES Innovation, Arla is addressing flora and fauna challenges through NatureCheck, a comprehensive advisory tool designed to help farmers assess and enhance biodiversity on their farmland. NatureCheck provides detailed mapping of biodiversity hotspots, focusing on features like natural grasslands, wetlands, meadows, hedgerows and ponds. The tool enables farmers to identify existing natural features and make informed decisions about restoring and protecting critical habitats.
NatureCheck will by 2026 have been adopted by all organic Arla farms in Denmark and is a vital tool the progress towards a more sustainable system where food production and responsibility for environmental resources go hand in hand.
Economic and environmental advantages
Farmers can achieve multiple benefits by embracing NatureCheck. Enhanced biodiversity can lead to improved crop yields, better pest management, and more resilient landscapes. Moreover, biodiversity initiatives contribute to global goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15, centring life on land, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
NatureCheck strengthens farmers’ market position by addressing growing consumer demand for sustainable practices. Showcasing biodiversity efforts helps farmers meet expectations for environmentally responsible production. The implementation of NatureCheck across all of Arla’s organic farms in Denmark marks a significant step toward promoting biodiversity within the agriculture and food sector.