- About Integrated Farm Management
- Our LEAF Network of Demonstration Farms & Innovation Centres
- Resources
- LEAF Sustainable Farming Review
- LEAF Endorsed Advisors & Consultants
- Our Projects & Partnerships
- Nature Based Solutions to Climate Change
- Beacons of Excellence
- Resilient & Ready
- Accelerating & Demonstrating the Journey to Net-Zero
- The Regen Academy
More than one million tonnes of UK cereals now produced by LEAF Marque certified growers.
LEAF Marque certified farms account for around 5.6% of national wheat, barley and oat production by volume, demonstrating the scale of sustainable farming across the UK.
Following Cereals 2026, LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is highlighting the significant contribution that LEAF Marque certified growers make to UK food production, with certified farms now producing more than one million tonnes of cereals annually while meeting independently audited environmental standards.
Analysis of crop area data submitted by LEAF Marque certified growers through the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review (LSFR) 2025, indicates that certified growers are responsible for an estimated 1.09 million tonnes of cereals each year. Production estimates were calculated using the reported crop areas alongside Defra published UK average yields for wheat, barley and oats. This represents approximately 5.6% of total UK production across these key arable crops, demonstrating that sustainable farming practices are delivering at a meaningful commercial scale.
The figures* show LEAF Marque certified growers are estimated to produce:
• 736,884 tonnes of wheat annually - equivalent to 6.1% of UK wheat production.
• 303,462 tonnes of barley annually - equivalent to 4.7% of UK barley production.
• 52,695 tonnes of oats annually - equivalent to 5.5% of UK oat production.
These production estimates are generated from more than 160,000 hectares of LEAF Marque certified cereal crops reported through the LSFR. Collectively, LEAF Marque provides independently audited environmental assurance across this land area and the rest of the farms to which it relates, placing it amongst the most significant voluntary environmental assurance systems operating within UK arable farming.
The figures also reveal the extent to which sustainable farming has moved beyond niche adoption. The data suggests one in every 16 tonnes of UK wheat, one in every 21 tonnes of UK barley and one in every 18 tonnes of UK oats is produced on a LEAF Marque certified farm.
David Webster, LEAF Chief Executive, said:
"These figures highlight the scale at which LEAF Marque farmers are contributing to UK food production. Together, certified growers are estimated to produce more than one million tonnes of wheat, barley and oats each year from over 160,000 hectares of certified cereal crops, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and productive agriculture go hand in hand.
“In a context of increasing environmental due diligence and supply chain reporting requirements, LEAF Marque provides verified evidence of environmental performance at farm level alongside a governance framework that supports independent assurance across supply chains. This makes it a trusted tool for responsible sourcing.
"The discussions at Cereals 2026 last week, reinforced the importance of practical solutions that enable farmers to deliver both food production and environmental outcomes. These figures provide clear evidence that farmers adopting Integrated Farm Management are delivering significant quantities of high-quality food while managing natural resources responsibly and building resilience for the future.
"Food production and environmental delivery are often presented as competing priorities. LEAF Marque growers are demonstrating that both can be achieved together through a whole-farm approach that supports productivity, profitability and environmental responsibility."
Underpinned by the principles of Integrated Farm Management (IFM), LEAF Marque is an independently audited, globally applied environmental assurance system, currently operating in 60 countries. Certification is delivered by third-party bodies that are required to hold formal accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065 under oversight from national accreditation bodies such as the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). This provides robust, independently verified assurance for supply chains, retailers and consumers.
The commercial value of LEAF Marque is increasingly recognised throughout the supply chain. This is reflected in the adoption of LEAF Marque certification by most of the UK’s leading food retailers, which have incorporated it into sourcing requirements for fresh produce across both domestic and international supply chains.
This value is further demonstrated through initiatives such as the Jordans Farm Partnership, where farmers are rewarded for producing crops to independently verified LEAF Marque standards, helping to create additional value from sustainable farming practices.
Recognition of LEAF Marque is also extending into agricultural finance, with leading lenders including HSBC UK, Oxbury Bank and Barclays developing initiatives that support farmers investing in environmental sustainability and business resilience.