Waitrose is supporting more than 2,000 of its British farmers to move to nature-friendly farming practices in a bid to boost financial resilience of farms in the long-term and combat the effects of climate change.
The upmarket retailer will sourcing UK meat, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables from farms that use regenerative practices by 2035 – a way of farming that focuses on improving the health of the soil and the environment, making it healthier and more productive.
It helps tackle issues such as top-soil erosion – the loss of the most fertile layer of soil – which is being accelerated by some farming methods and can make it harder to grow crops.
Waitrose executive director James Bailey unveiled the plans to its British farmers at its Leckford Estate in Hampshire today (8 May), with a hope the changes will help protect farmers against the worst effects of climate change as well as enhance nature.
As part of the scheme, Waitrose will develop plans for its British farmers to access affordable finance and provide resources to support their transition to regenerative and low carbon farming, provide a market for regeneratively produced food in shops and online.
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It will have a permanent Centre of Excellence at its Leckford farm, providing practical tools, workshops, online resources and mentoring to help farmers to make the shift to regenerative agriculture.
It will also work with a group of farmers to develop its understanding of regenerative practices across different supply chains, tailored to farming types and then scale these into supply chains.
By 2026, Waitrose is aiming to complete a ‘state of nature’ assessment of all its own-brand UK farms and create land management plans so farmers and growers can improve priority habitats and support thriving biodiversity.
It will also undertake field trials and new innovative practices at the Leckford farm, which will help inform its approach to regenerative practices in its supply chains.
Bailey said: “We want Waitrose customers to know that when they shop with us, they are voting with their purses and wallets for a food system that restores and works in harmony with the natural world, and that supports a financially sustainable future for British farmers.
“We have a duty to help our farmers make the move towards more nature-friendly growing, and we’re committed to playing our part in the revolution that our country’s food system requires.”
Key parts of the plan also include collaboration with LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), which will see Waitrose roll out its certification globally to all fresh produce growers by 2026.
With LEAF, the retailer is also setting up eight satellite farms in the UK on a three-year programme representing a range of farming sectors including beef, dairy, pig, poultry, top and soft fruit, root vegetables and glasshouse.
The aim will be to produce best practice guidance that has been tested and shared more widely in supply chains, making it easier for farmers to know what really works, and the impact changes could have and what they might cost.
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Re regenerative agriculture: Have you seen our research on this in the Journal of Agricultural Science, 5 December 2022, pp. 1-11 (Cambridge University Press)? We looked at effects of farm yard manure based compost on soil sustainability and soil organic matter and reviewed agricultural systems.