--- title: Guest Blog - Why a Natural Capital Assessment is Fundamental for Farm Businesses description: CEO of Suffolk FWAG, Anna Beames, shares her experience of applying the LAND360 natural capital assessment service on-farm and why every farmer should consider this process to help futureproof their business. image: https://blog.fera.co.uk/hubfs/Anna-Beames-Blog-Banner-1.png --- Natural Capital # Guest Blog - Why a Natural Capital Assessment is Fundamental for Farm Businesses CEO of Suffolk FWAG, Anna Beames, shares her experience of applying the LAND360 natural capital assessment service on-farm and why every farmer should consider this process to help futureproof their business. [ Fera Science ](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/author/fera-science) Apr 25, 2023 --- CEO of [Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG),](https://suffolkfwag.co.uk/the-team/) Anna Beames, has a passion for helping producers to harness nature-friendly farming practices, to produce food in a sustainable and profitable way. Anna has been working closely with the LAND360 team at [Helmingham estate](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/helmingham-estate-case-study) in Suffolk to demonstrate how understanding natural capital can benefit farm and estate businesses. She shares her positive experience of using [LAND360](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360) and how it can help spot income opportunities. ***Why is nature-friendly farming so important?*** Arguably, farmers are the primary users and providers of [natural capital](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/understanding-and-measuring-natural-capital). Farm businesses, and therefore farmers’ livelihoods, depends on natural assets being in a healthy state to support the production of nutritious food. When [elements of natural capital](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/natural-capital-across-farm-business) degrade, there will ultimately be a tipping point where they are no longer able to provide farmers and wider society with the vital services we depend on, such as clean, healthy air and drinking water. Sometimes this damage is irreversible. For example, there are warnings of damaged farmland soil in the UK becoming hydrophobic, losing its ability to absorb water. Soil is the engine room of all farms, and this issue could pose a huge risk to crop production and potentially the food supply chain unless remedial action is taken. By working with nature to protect and maintain natural assets, such as our soil, farmers can help build a more resilient and sustainable food chain. ***How is FWAG encouraging nature-friendly farming?*** [The FWAG Association](https://www.fwag.org.uk/) is a membership organisation dedicated to advisory services, supporting farmers to produce food in harmony with the natural environment and make the most of [agri-environmental subsidies and grants](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/agri-environmental-schemes) available from the government. FWAG was established by farmers, for farmers, driven by producers with a genuine love and appreciation for wildlife, nature and conservation. Working with Glenn Buckingham, farm manager at [Helmingham estate](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/helmingham-estate-case-study) in Suffolk, we have been using [LAND360](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360) to understand natural capital on the estate and investigate how public and private funding sources could be harnessed to invest in environmental sustainability. Helmingham is relatively pioneering in terms of testing and trialling Countryside Stewardship schemes and the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), so it’s been the perfect place to trial LAND360 before rolling it out to our 500 members. ***Why did Suffolk FWAG choose to work with Fera to understand on-farm natural capital using LAND360?*** I wanted to find a natural capital assessment tool that stood the test of time and was borne from science, as opposed to commerce. [LAND360](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360) was the stand-out option. Fera scientists are specialists in analysing the scope, condition and value of natural assets, as well as supporting farmers and land managers to put a figure on their ‘outdoor bank’. I liken [Fera](https://www.fera.co.uk/) to Sotheby’s or Christy’s. If you were to collect art or antiques of some worth, you would get a valuation from these experts to give you visibility of how valuable the asset you own is. Likewise, I always encourage farmers to take time to take stock of the natural assets they actually have before making any bold commitments . ***Why do you advise farmers to investigate and measure their natural capital?*** Farmland data is an incredibly valuable asset in this day and age. The more knowledge you have about the land you manage, the more you are able to adapt. We’re at a pivotal time in the agricultural sector where a lot is still unknown – including the future market for natural capital investment from private investors. Understanding the true value of on-farm natural capital enables farmers and land managers to be in a position of choice when it comes to considering investment offers that could help [futureproof their business](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/land-management-futureproof-farms). It is absolutely fundamental to view natural capital and biodiversity investment as a business decision – as much as buying machinery or planting your crop. To make these decisions accurately and monitor return on investment, it’s really important to have the right tool for the job. [Natural Capital](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/tag/natural-capital) [LAND360](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/tag/land360) ## Similar posts Sustainability ### [How Science And Data Can Inform Farm Business Plans As Demand For Land Increases](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/science-and-data-inform-farm-business-plans) Paul Brown from our LAND360 team explains why farmers and land managers need to investigate and understand their natural capital data to make... Fera Science Aug 15, 2023 Sustainability ### [More Clarity And Certainty On Farmland Natural Capital Investment Opportunities](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/scaling-up-natural-capital-private-investment) Dr Glyn Jones, from our LAND360 team, shares what Defra’s plans to scale up private investment in natural capital could mean for farmers and land... Fera Science May 31, 2023 LAND360 ### [How Can Remote Sensing Technology help Farmers Calculate Natural Capital?](https://blog.fera.co.uk/land360/blog/remote-sensing-technology) Geospatial science can support farmers in making complex decisions about future land use. Fera Science Jun 13, 2022 ### Get notified on new LAND360 insights Be the first to know about LAND360 insights and resources to help identify tangible natural capital and biodiversity opportunities on your land.    [![Subscribe to Blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20137160/684783be-2f2d-4e42-98e2-e2ace552d5da.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20137160/684783be-2f2d-4e42-98e2-e2ace552d5da)