Conservation Grade
All Jordans cereals and bars are made from either Conservation Grade or Organic grain. Conservation Grade is a scheme created by Bill Jordan in 1985 to help protect wildlife on the farms that supply our non-organic cereals.
One of the main reasons for a decline in species over the last 50 years is the loss of their habitats. After the Second World War, farmers had to use every inch of their land for food production, so often hedgerows and trees were removed. This has been well publicised in recent years and the government has now declared that action must be taken before endangered animal, bird and plant species are lost forever.
Conservation Grade farming is a farming system proven to dramatically reverse the decline in wildlife on farmland. In fact, in independent trials run by the government-funded Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) it has been shown to increase wildlife by up to five times.
Our Conservation Grade farmers commit to taking 10% of their land out of food production to create a number of specific wildlife habitats that are designed to work together to increase the overall biodiversity of the farm. They plant wild flower edges around their fields for bees, insects and butterflies to feed on; sow seed growing crops, to provide foods for birds over winter and put up boxes for owls and bats.
Conservation Grade farming is recognised by leading environmental organisations such as the RSPB and is endorsed by Green campaigners like Professor David Bellamy.
Conservation Grade cereals account for 80% of the grain used in our products. Jordans does not buy Conservation Grade grain on the open market – British farmers are contracted to grow oats, wheat and barley specifically for us. They are paid a premium and we guarantee to buy their crops. This gives us total quality control from seedling to cereal packet. Jordans now has contracts with 79 farmers, representing approximately 60,000 acres of UK farmland.
For more information visit www.conservationgrade.co.uk