M&S has launched a new ‘Farm for the Future’ programme supporting livestock farmers to decarbonise and maximise wildlife and habitat creation.
The seven-year programme will work with seven M&S Select Farms across six key production sectors including beef, lamb, dairy, chicken, pork and egg to identify and implement practical, on-farm activities to help them achieve net zero.
It will see M&S collaborating with suppliers such as Cranswick, Skea Eggs, Dunbia, Scotbeef, Linden Foods, Muller, 2 Sisters Food Group and Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming.
The scheme looks to create a support network, with access to advice and mentoring from agricultural sustainability, farm efficiency and animal welfare practitioners.
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It also forms part of the retailer’s sustainability action ‘Plan A’ to reduce its carbon footprint to net zero by 2040.
M&S Food head of agriculture and fisheries Steve McLean said: “Over 70% of the emissions of our food business come from primary agriculture, particularly the livestock and ruminant sectors, so it is clear this needs real focus.
“We recognise the challenges this brings on farm, and the need to continue to produce affordable, high-quality food from sustainable supply chain relationships.
“We are committed to helping our M&S Select Farmers navigate these challenges, and this new initiative will enable us to support innovative approaches on seven of our M&S Select Farms, with the findings being shared across our whole supply base and the wider industry to help drive real change.”
