AWARDED CONTRACT

This specification sets out the requirement for a project to develop an online, free to user nutrient management planning tool that facilitates compliance with regulations, is up to date with the latest nutrient management recommendations and is easy to use. Its aim is to improve uptake of nutrient management planning tools by farmers and growers and minimise nutrient losses to the environment.

The Tool shall:

a) link with latest fertiliser recommendations in the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

b) facilitate compliance with Farming Rules for Water (FRfW) and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) Regulations

c) include optional modules or link to other tools to e.g. enable a farmer to calculate the N loss and where relevant P loss that will result from a proposed farm nutrient plan, comply with slurry regulations and use cost or carbon calculators.

The project will encompass:

• a discovery phase that further defines stakeholder needs and how to maximise uptake; and, depending on the outcome:
• co-design and build phase.
• monitoring and evaluation phase to monitor uptake of the tool, improvement in compliance and nutrient management and longitudinal research of factors and practices influencing nutrient use efficiency

Outcomes:

• A basic tool that could be used for compliance purposes, is available at no cost
• Farmers can optimize their nutrient management efficiency and are able to meet requirements of FRfW and NVZ regulations for nutrient management planning
• The tool can provide additional functions or link to other tools e.g. calculate the N loss, and where relevant P loss, that will result from a proposed farm nutrient plan, support compliance with Slurry Silage and Agricultural Fuel Oil (SSAFO) Regulations and facilitate cost or carbon calculations
• Farmers can understand the impact of their nutrient plan on field and farm nutrient losses and can identify how, using the tool, they can reduce these losses and improve their nutrient management efficiencies and regulatory compliance.
• Farmers can iterate the nutrient plan and/ or farm management practices they implement, so as to optimise the yield that can be achieved within any field or farm and minimise pollution risk.
• Provision of a tool which could be used to inform policy, such as monitoring a SFI Nutrient Management standard
• Optimise use of mineral fertilisers to reduce costs, increase nutrient use efficiency and facilitate the use of organic materials where appropriate
• Provides a one stop tool farmers can use to manage and record their nutrient application rate and plan, farm practices implemented and compliance with farm regulation.
• Farmers can use the results of the tool as a record of their regulatory compliance (such as NVZ record etc)
• Air, water and soil quality can be easily considered in nutrient decision making
• Farmers/growers can make informed decisions to contribute towards their net zero aims.