LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Public Consultation Survey - Business Planning & Resilience

Welcome to the LEAF Marque v17.0 Standard Public Consultation Survey

LEAF Marque is a leading global environmental assurance system recognising more sustainably farmed products. The LEAF Marque Standard is based on LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management (IFM) principles, and all LEAF Marque certified businesses are independently inspected.

The LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft #2 has been developed with input from multi-stakeholder working groups and focus groups, the LEAF Marque Technical Advisory Committee, research conducted by LEAF, and feedback from the first v17.0 Public Consultation.

This survey contains targeted questions on the changes made to the standard. We are particularly interested in your views on whether these changes are relevant, feasible, and auditable. We recommend you read the summary of changes before completing this survey.

Click here to view the LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft
Click here to view the LEAF Marque Standard v16.1

Public consultation on the LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 Draft will open on the 1 October and runs until the 29 November. Please ensure we receive your comments by the close of consultation on the 29 November.

Please note the following:
• The updated Livestock Management section (called Animal Husbandry in v16.1) is now included in the v17.0 draft.
• The V17.0 draft is not final. There may be additional changes to the draft (for example, to incorporate feedback from the public consultations).
• The new guidance column is not final – there will be more guidance added.

For further information on the LEAF Marque Standard and other ways to provide feedback, please visit the public consultation website.

If you have any questions or require assistance in answering this survey, please contact LEAF (E: alexandra.davies@leaf.eco; T: +44 (0) 2476 413 911).

LEAF Marque will collate and review all comments received during the consultation. An anonymised summary of the comments and changes made to the Standard will be shared with all participants in the public consultation. No confidential information will be disclosed in the summary. LEAF Marque treats all information received from respondents with care.
1.Please input your name
2.Please input a contact email(Required.)
3.Please input your organisation
4.Please select the type of organisation you work for(Required.)
5.Please input your country(Required.)
6.Is your business LEAF Marque Certified?
7.1.3 Awareness of all applicable national and local regulatory and legislative requirements. (Core)

The requirement in Control point 1.3 has been modified, such that it now requires businesses to demonstrate awareness of applicable legislation and how to comply instead of demonstrating full compliance across all legislation.

Do you think this requirement is achievable, and auditable?
8.1.8 Where the business rents land/is a tenant, it seeks landowners with sustainability objectives. (Advanced)

Control point 1.8 is a new requirement that encourages businesses to seek landowners with sustainability objectives to support more aligned management strategies (e.g., to improve soil health, protect and enhance biodiversity, etc.).

Do you think this requirement is achievable, and auditable?
9.1.10.c There is awareness of: Locally relevant extreme weather events and their potential risks to the business, strategies to mitigate the risks of extreme weather events, strategies to respond to extreme weather events (e.g., to minimise negative impacts). (Core)

The climate risk assessment requirement (1.10.c) has been modified, such that a formal risk assessment is no longer required, however the business must demonstrate awareness of potential extreme weather events, their impacts, and mitigation strategies.

Do you think these changes are appropriate?
10.1.10.d The business is aware of strategies to strengthen its resilience (e.g., enterprise/variety selection, market opportunities, etc.). (Advanced)

This requirement has been modified to encourage businesses to consider what strategies might support them to build business resilience, instead of conducting a ‘financial risk assessment’. This requirement will not be mandatory for LEAF Marque certification.

Do you think the requirement is achievable, and auditable?