How to measure emissions from Agriculture

What counts as Agriculture

Purchased agricultural products and related inputs — for example fertilisers, pesticides and agrochemicals, compost, and forestry products — used in the organisation's operations. Excludes food and drink purchased for catering (see Food and drink) and biomass fuel (see Biomass), which are recorded separately even where the underlying material is agricultural in origin.

Agriculture covers upstream agricultural inputs and products rather than prepared food or fuel — a bag of fertiliser or a tonne of forestry product belongs here, while the same organisation's staff catering sits under Food and drink and any wood combusted for energy sits under Biomass. This distinction matters most for organisations with land management, grounds maintenance or agri-adjacent supply chains, where fertiliser, pesticide and compost purchases can be a material but easily overlooked Scope 3 line.

What activity data you need

Collect the most specific physical unit available. Unit definitions are in Appendix I — Description of Units.

• tonne
• £ Spend
• $ Spend

Which emission scope it falls under

Agriculture activity data typically maps to Scope 3 Category 1 under the GHG Protocol. Confirm organisational boundary and ownership before reporting.

Sub-types available in the platform

All 6 sub-types available in the platform.

• Agricultural products: Average: UK
• Compost: Garden waste derived
• Compost: Mixed food and garden waste derived
• Fertilisers: Average: UK
• Forestry products: Average: UK
• Pesticides and other agrochemicals: Average: UK

Common questions

Does agricultural produce we buy for our canteen belong here?

No — food and drink purchased for catering, even if agricultural in origin, is recorded under Food and drink; this entry is for agricultural inputs and products used directly in operations, such as fertiliser or forestry material.

We use compost from mixed food and garden waste on our grounds — how is that recorded?

Use the "Compost: Mixed food and garden waste derived" sub-type if that matches your specific compost source; if your compost is garden-waste-only, use the corresponding garden-waste-derived sub-type instead, since the feedstock affects the result.

How should a landscaping contractor's blended annual invoice (labour plus materials) be treated?

Where possible, ask the contractor to separate labour/service costs from the agricultural materials supplied (fertiliser, compost); record only the materials portion here, and consider whether the service portion belongs under Business services.

Does timber or wood we buy from a forestry supplier for construction count here?

No — wood purchased as a construction material is recorded under Construction or Materials; use Agriculture's forestry products sub-type for unprocessed forestry products used more generally, and check which entry best matches the end use of your specific purchase.

We can't get itemised fertiliser vs pesticide data from our supplier — what should we do?

Use the general "Agricultural products: Average" sub-type for the blended spend, and request itemised invoicing for future purchases so fertiliser and pesticide volumes can be recorded separately, since they carry different intensities.