Waitrose has said it is playing its part in a food system “revolution” after announcing it was supporting 2,000 British farmers move to more regenerative farming practices.
The supermarket has been piloting regenerative practices at its Leckford Estate farm in Hampshire, and now wants 2,000 of its supplier farms in the UK to adopt similar farming practices.
II has launched “Farming for Nature”, a pledge to work with British farmers on regenerative farming initiatives, as it looks to combat the impact of climate change.
The pledge will see Waitrose commit to sourcing its UK meat, milk eggs, fruit and vegetables from farms that use regenerative practices by 2035 as it looks to reach net zero across Waitrose’s UK farms by 2035, and the entire supply chain by 2050.
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It also comes Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, says that four in ten of its customers are worried about the impact that modern farming has on nature and wildlife.
Waitrose key “Farming for Nature” commitments are-
- Develop plans for 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 Waitrose shops and online.
- Have a permanent Centre of Excellence, providing practical tools, workshops, online resources and mentoring to help farmers to make the shift to regenerative agriculture.
- 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.
- Complete a ‘state of nature’ assessment by 2026 of all Waitrose’s own-brand UK farms and create land management plans so farmers and growers can improve priority habitats and support thriving biodiversity.
- Undertake field trials and new innovative practices at our Leckford farm, which will help inform our approach to regenerative practices in our supply chains.
Unveiling the plans to its British farmers, executive director James 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.”
Earlier this year, a UK startup, which uses seaweed to create recyclable packaging, is teaming up with Waitrose and fresh fruit producer Blue Skies to help cut plastic waste across the Sub-Saharan African supply chain.
