We work with farmers and growers across the globe to deliver more sustainable farming through LEAF Marque certification. Gaining insight into the impact of the LEAF Marque assurance system is crucial for continuous improvement of our standards. That is why LEAF invests in monitoring and evaluation. You can see the full scale of our impact in our Global Impacts Report.
Download LEAF’s Global Impacts Report 2020All of the key highlights from the LEAF Global Impacts Report 2020 can be found in our highlights flyer.
We would be very grateful for any feedback you have on LEAF's monitoring and evaluation activities in general as well as on LEAF's Global Impacts Report 2020. Your comments are extremely valuable to us as we work to continually strengthen the way we measure and report on our impacts. Please email us with any feedback - thank you.
Other documents of interest:
In 2012, when LEAF established its monitoring and evaluation programme, we started providing information about our impacts, growth and the economic, environmental and social benefits of achieving and maintaining LEAF Marque certification. We continue to build on that work which helps provide the scientific foundation for the transparent and impartial evaluation of LEAF’s effectiveness in delivering our mission and vision.
LEAF Marque Certified businesses*
Countries with LEAF Marque Certified businesses*
Our global reach continues to increase. In 2019, we worked with 936 businesses in 27 countries. Collectively this representents a total global hectarage of 358,455 hectares representing 147 different crop types and livestock classes. The arable and horticulture sectors are the two largest LEAF Marque crop areas worldwide at 168,560 hectares and 166,652 hectares respectively.
The UK has the largest hectarge of LEAF Marque certified crop area at 337,028 hectares followed by Spain 23,062 hectares and France 14,326 hectares.
Farming businesses across the world are turning to LEAF Marque certification to demonstrate their environmental credentials and in doing so, building business resilience.
* Figures taken from LEAF Global Impacts Report 2020.
Hectares of crop on LEAF Marque certified businesses around the globe*
of UK fruit & vegetables are produced by LEAF Marque certified businesses*
In the UK, we continue to see growth in the uptake of LEAF Marque certification, particularly within the horticultural sector. The horticulture sector remains the strongest growth area with the percentage of UK fruit and vegetables produced on LEAF Marque certified businesses increasing to 43%, including 95% of lettuce, 93% of leeks and 92% of asparagus. Whilst we are immensely proud of the impact we are making, there is much scope for expansion within cereals, oilseeds, meat and dairy sectors.*
* Figures taken from LEAF Global Impacts Report 2020.
We are delighted to fanfare the achievements of our members and LEAF Marque certified businesses. We are now building our capacity to go further and achieve more, extending the reach of LEAF Marque certification to more countries, into more sectors and helping to create more positive outcomes for farmers, their communities and the environment. To achieve this, LEAF will continue to work with other organisations across the globe to ensure we are making the biggest and best difference we can to farmers, the environment and to wider society.
Wheat
80,988ha
Potato
32,249ha
Barley
30,390ha
Oilseed Rape
18,635ha
Lettuce
12,403ha
Permanent Grass
12,061ha
Sugar Beet
10,936ha
Maize
10,669ha
Onion
9,372ha
Broccoli
8,849ha
Carrot
7,370ha
Cauliflower
6,183ha
Sweetcorn
4,766ha
Spinach
4,395ha
Oats
4,386ha
Short-term Grass
4,257ha
Creating connections and building awareness and understanding for people about how their food is produced, where it comes from and the huge range of goods and services farming delivers, is a key part of delivering more sustainable farming.
A growing number of LEAF Marque certified businesses are actively communicating about how they farm sustainably through farm visits and events - both on and off the farm. We see them reaching out to a wide range of groups, most notably industry representatives, other farmers and schools.
View all of this years case studies from LEAF’s Global Impacts Report 2020. Hear from farmers showing best practice in specific areas of Integrated Farm Management.
