DATAPOINT

This week’s standout figures concern the UK Government’s new pesticide reduction target, a drop on coffee production in Brazil, low carbon glass bottles and the €60 billion question being asked of big banks when it comes to regenag.

10%. The target set out in the UK Government’s draft pesticides national action plan. This target is not based on a simple volume reduction of 10%. Instead, a UK pesticide load indicator (PLI) has been developed which combines data on pesticide usage with that on pesticide properties. The PLI considers the harm pesticides may potentially cause to different species groups, the way pesticides behave in the environment and the quantity used. It will only apply to the arable sector.

66 million. Bags of coffee produced by Brazil in 2024/25, which is 3% lower than the previous year, according to research by GlobalData, and reported by Just Drinks. Vietnam volumes will stay flat on the previous year at 27 million bags. The site reports on how climate change is impacting producers and is left in “no doubt” that this is a serious supply chain scare.

17%. The race to produce lower carbon glass bottles is heating up. Blending green hydrogen into the energy mix at an Ardagh furnace in Sweden is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 17% in every glass bottle produced.

€60 billion. Traditional banking institutions have created a €60 billion annual financing gap for small and medium-sized European farms, which means we need institutional investors, according to Laimonas Noreika. The financial case for regenerative farming methods is compelling, the founder of HeavyFinance told the Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food site, showing roughly 20% higher profits compared to conventional approaches (even without factoring in potential carbon credit revenue).