I’m Grace, one of FCT’s Calculator Development Officers. If you haven’t heard of FCT or our Farm Carbon Calculator, that job title probably means very little to you! So, let me explain what I do on a day to day basis to help maintain running one of the UK’s top 3 farm carbon calculators.
The Farm Carbon Calculator is just one branch of FCT’s work and is a tool within our online toolkit. Working within our Calculator team, my role is to ensure the Farm Carbon Calculator is based on rigorous science, remains up-to-date with standards and guidance, and is free of bugs that can sometimes appear when running a software.
To achieve these aims, I am regularly undertaking research, particularly if someone has requested an item on the Calculator, like a specific fertiliser or crop. I will find associated emissions factors, consult with experts in the field, alongside standards and guidance to ensure we are employing the recommended calculations.
Each year we undertake two major updates, one in April where we assess and update all emissions factors and one in October where we also look to improve the functionality of the Calculator. These are busy times for our team, where we work through and update thousands of line items on the Calculator to ensure we remain up-to-date with the latest science and data that’s available. All the while, I work alongside Lizzy Parker (Calculator Manager), James Pitman (Calculator Development Officer) and our software developers to keep the website running smoothly.
Aside from my core work on the Calculator, one of the exciting things about working for FCT is the breadth of interesting projects we are involved in. I have undertaken farm modelling work for a few different projects looking to model the transition to more regenerative practices and the impacts that may have on greenhouse gas emissions. I regularly go to farming conferences to hear firsthand the issues that farmers are facing and can offer free advice on carbon footprinting their farm. I get to brush up on my science communication skills when posting blogs on our website on hot topics. I also get to enjoy our in person events such as our Annual Field Day, Soil Farmer of the Year and Carbon Farmer of the Year events, where we champion pioneers in sustainable farming.
Since we all work remotely and are spread far and wide across the UK, it is these in-person events and our Away Days that remind me how lucky I am to work with such passionate people who care immensely about our farmers, our environment and our food production systems.
