www.leafuk.org | Twitter: @LEAF_Farming | Facebook: fb.com/LinkingEnvironmentAndFarming LEAF Demonstration Farms © LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) 2018. Charity No. 1045781

The Jersey Royal Company Ltd

Director, Sales and Marketing: William Church Address: The Jersey Royal Company Ltd, Southfork, Rue du Trot, St Saviour, Jersey JE2 7JQ Website: www.jerseyroyal.co.uk

The Farm

Farming around 8,300 vergées (1,800 ha) annually across 1,800 fields, producing around 20,000 tonnes of potatoes per year and employing up to 450 staff, the company’s ethos is about building long term financial and environmental resilience. Traditional farming methods are used alongside new innovations and technologies revolving around protecting and building healthy soils, careful water management and increasing energy efficiency integrated with measures to enhance biodiversity.

Integrated Farm Management (IFM) is integral to the business which is focused on pushing productivity forwards in a sustainable way. The company invests heavily in R&D to modify and improve growing techniques to get a better, more consistent potato to supply to the market. Consistent labour, soil protection, cover crops, pest control, biofumigation are all at the top of the agenda.

The Jersey Royal Company Ltd is the largest farmer on the Island. It is a completely integrated business – growing, harvesting, grading, packing and marketing the internationally recognised and protected Jersey Royal new potato to a wide number of retailers, wholesalers, packers and processors. The company has been a member of LEAF since 1996 and LEAF Marque certified since 2005.

www.leafuk.org | Twitter: @LEAF_Farming | Facebook: fb.com/LinkingEnvironmentAndFarming LEAF Demonstration Farms © LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) 2018. Charity No. 1045781

Sustainable farming

As the Island’s largest land user, The Jersey Royal Company recognises its environmental responsibilities. They aim to work with nature, continually looking at ways to adapt and improve farming systems.

A wide range of environmental initiatives have been adopted as an integral part of farming operations, all driving production in a sustainable manner and minimising environmental impacts. Key areas include:

• Continual reduction of inputs year on year • 'Reduce, re-use and recycle' approach to waste management • Energy efficiency • Careful water management • Wildlife and landscape conservation and enhancement

Conservation Maintaining and improving the wealth of wildlife features across the business has always been a key priority. Hedgerows are managed sensitively to provide food and habitat for insects, birds and small mammals. Barn owl boxes have been placed around the sites and habitat protection work to support a wide range of species including hedgehogs, agile frogs and green lizards is ongoing. The company is also involved in a number of local conservation initiatives including ‘Birds on the Edge’ which is working to restore the red-billed chough back onto the Island. The LEAF Marque The LEAF Marque is a global environmental assurance system, recognising more sustainably farmed products. It is held by businesses that meet rigorous standards of sustainable farming practice. All LEAF Marque certified businesses have been independently verified. The Jersey Royal Company has been LEAF Marque certified since 2005. Community Engagement The company regularly hosts visits for schools and local interest groups to connect people with how their food is grown. They have been involved with LEAF Open Farm Sunday for many years which sees hundreds of people visit several sites on the Island to see how the world-renowned Jersey Royal is grown. Sharing best practice and expertise with suppliers and other farmers is also a key driver for the business.

About LEAF Demonstration Farms

LEAF Demonstration Farms are commercial farms, which show the beneficial practices of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) to a broad range of audiences, through organised visits. They communicate an understanding of IFM in order to encourage uptake by farmers, support from the industry and political awareness of sustainable food and farming. For more information, visit www.leafuk.org