The ARCZero European Innovation Partnership Project will be holding their first farm walk on the farm of Hugh Harbison near Aghadowey.

ARCZero is a European Innovation Partnership project made up of a co-operative of 7 farms in Northern Ireland.

It seeks to measure and manage carbon flows at the individual farm level to empower farmers to make positive change towards carbon zero farming.

The project is independently led by John Gilliland, alongside 7 commercial farms and industry partners including AgriSearch, Devenish, Queens University Belfast and Birnie Consultancy.​ARCZero has focused on producing an accurate, individual, whole farm carbon balance sheets. It has precisely measured on-farm carbon stocks (soils, trees and hedges) combining them with the results of a whole farm Lifecycle Analysis calculator. This has enabled the accurate creation of a base-line greenhouse gas position.

By assessing future management practices and identifying the most impactful behaviours the project intends to inform how farms across Northern Ireland could accelerate the move towards net carbon zero farming.

The first in a series of farm walks will be held on the farm of Hugh Harbison near Aghadowey. Hugh farms 180 autumn calving dairy cows on 100 Ha.

Stops on the farm walk will include:

• Introduction to the farm and the ARCZero Project
• Measuring GHG emissions
• Measuring above and below ground carbon
• Starting the journey to net zero
• Using LIDAR to optimise nutrient management and improve water quality
• Take home messages / Next Steps

Tours will leave every 30 minutes from 10.30am with the last group leaving at 12.30pm. Pre-booking is required.

The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) scheme is part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP). It is jointly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).