The Global Farm Metric
Resource explained
The Global Farm Metric (GFM) is a holistic framework to establish a shared understanding and facilitate measurement of whole-farm sustainability. Its mission is to drive systems change and enable farming that delivers positive outcomes for climate, nature and people. From the website, you can explore the framework and find out more about the farms, organisations and institutes that are involved. You can also access various resources, including an overview report ‘from principles to practice’ which provides a useful summary of the GFM and how it could help farmers. Evidence-based and evolving, the framework is supported by over 200 collaborators across the globe, including farmers, food and farming organisations, academic and government agencies.
The framework is built around 12 interconnected categories that reflect the key environmental, social and economic dimensions of a sustainable farm system – none of which can be considered in isolation. Each category is linked to a shared outcome, supported by subcategories that focus attention on what drives change. Measurable indicators track progress, while contextual factors recognise that every farm operates under unique conditions, some beyond the farmer’s control.
The GFM is designed to establish a common language on farm sustainability and be embedded into farm assessments, audits, certification schemes, education and management tools and more.The GFM is designed to establish a common language on farm sustainability and be embedded into farm assessments, audits, certification schemes, education and management tools and more.
Findings & recommendations
- The GFM is a framework to understand, measure and monitor the state of farming systems globally. Its mission is to support the transition to more sustainable food and farming systems from the ground up.
- It is designed to establish a common language that aligns existing metrics in the food and farming industry around a holistic view of farm-level sustainability. Many farm sustainability assessments focus on outputs and impacts of the farm, or on practices implemented. The GFM is unique in acknowledging the importance of monitoring the state of the farm holistically.
- It supports farmers to understand, measure and monitor the environmental, social and economic state of their farm, practices used, farm outputs, and the impacts these have beyond the farm.
- A common framework enables farmers, food businesses, certifiers, banks and governments to speak the same language. This generates a shared understanding of what must be monitored to build resilient and sustainable farm systems. Through this, the GFM can help to create a policy and economic environment that supports continuous improvement in farm sustainability and drives collective action for nature, climate and people.
- The GFM Coalition is supported by over 200 organisations from across the global food and farming sector, including farmers, consultants, researchers, educators, environmental groups, certifiers, food companies, financial services and government agencies.
Also see footage of Fabia Bromovsky talking about the Global Farm Metric tool at ‘Getting Started with Regenerative Agriculture,’ an event held at the Waddesdon Estate in May 2023.
Summary provided by:
Sustainable Food TrustEdited by:
Janie CaldbeckAssociated Agricology Partner Organisation(s):
Author(s):
Global Farm Metric Coalition, supported by the Sustainable Food TrustOrganisation(s):
- Sustainable Food Trust
Evidence:
Applied research
Copyright:
Attribution, Share Alike CC BY-SARelated articles
