Sainsbury’s has launched a new agroforestry initiative to support farmers and growers to enable new farming practices and create a positive impact on the environment.

Agroforestry is the integration of trees, hedges and shrubs into farming systems, which provides benefits including shade and shelter for animals and crops, improving biodiversity and soil structure, while reducing soil erosion and capturing ammonia from the atmosphere.

Rolling out in collaboration with The Woodland Trust, which has partnered with the supermarket for the past 20 years, the initiative will see the conservation charity offer in-person support to farmers and growers to create planting plans that fit their farming systems.

As only an estimated 3.3% of the UK’s farmed area is currently practising agroforestry, which is less than half of the European average, the project aims to boost agroforestry adoption and help farmers integrate trees effectively while maintaining other essential land services.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

The Woodland Trust’s resources will be used alongside Sainsbury’s collaboration with Land App and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to give farmers the opportunity to map their land, which will help to identify the best areas of land for food production and habitat creation. 

The initiative will begin in the North West and South West of England, with suppliers involved offered direct access to tailored advice on how to best integrate trees on their land to build resilient practices while simultaneously helping to protect soils, rivers and climate.

Sainsbury’s director of corporate responsibility and sustainability Ruth Cranston said: “Over the past two decades we’ve worked closely to support the Woodland Trust and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve since we started work together 20 years ago.

“This latest partnership initiative aims to provide farmers with expertise to make the most of the tree planting opportunities available to them. It forms part of a wider partnership and collaboration programme with our suppliers as we seek to play a leading role in building a resilient UK food system.”