Noble Foods has become the first UK egg producer to implement TerraMap, a pioneering soil mapping technology, at one of its organic egg farms. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the company’s environmental strategy and supports its long-term commitment to regenerative agriculture under its 2050 Impact Strategy.
Developed by Hutchinsons, TerraMap uses passive gamma-ray detection to scan fields and generate high-resolution maps of up to 48 soil properties, at an industry-leading 800 sample points per hectare. This precise data provides Noble Foods with an unprecedented level of insight into soil health, enabling more precise land management and supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Emily Marshall, Agriculture Sustainability and Customer Manager at Noble Foods, commented:
“We’re excited to be using the TerraMap technology – our soils are the cornerstone of our on-farm sustainability efforts; they have the ability to influence every aspect of our sustainability strategy spanning water, carbon and nature. Terramap gives us a level of insight into the health of our soils that we’ve never had before. By understanding what’s happening beneath our feet we can make smarter decisions that benefit both the hens and the environment.”
The technology also includes TerraMap Carbon, the first carbon mapping service to accurately measure organic and active carbon in the soil. This capability is vital as Noble Foods continues to explore ways to reduce its carbon footprint through innovative technologies and alternative management practices to improve the amount of carbon stored in the land.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with such a forward-thinking, innovative business”, said Olivia Sawford, Hutchinsons, TerraMap Services Manager.
“Their adoption of TerraMap marks a significant step forward, providing in-depth layers of data for the very first time. This insight will help them meet their sustainability targets while supporting the welfare of their hens — ensuring they remain healthy, happy, and highly productive”.
The insights gained from TerraMap will play an important role in shaping Noble Foods’ 2050 Impact Strategy, helping to inform future land use, carbon reduction initiatives and biodiversity enhancement across its farming network. Biodiversity action plans are now in place across all Noble Foods-owned sites, where work is underway to assess opportunities and develop tailored plans in collaboration with site teams.
This initiative with TerraMap complements Noble Foods’ broader biodiversity efforts, including its pioneering partnership with AgriSound earlier this year, to introduce bioacoustic pollinator monitoring across 13 Purely Organic farms. Using Polly™ technology, the pilot tracks real-time pollinator activity, providing robust data to strengthen biodiversity action plans and long-term sustainability planning.
“The biodiversity levels on our farms are incredibly important to us, and for our customers too,” added Emily Marshall. “Our farmers work intrinsically with the land, so by using this technology, we’re ensuring our biodiversity efforts are backed by robust science and real-world data.”
Following the successful implementation of TerraMap on its organic site, Noble Foods plans to roll out the technology across its wider farming operations in the near future.
For more information, visit www.noblefoods.co.uk
