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Leading by example: Trialling innovation on UK Farms
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Tesco plc is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in the United Kingdom at its head offices in Welwyn Garden City, England. The company was founded by Jack Cohen in Hackney, London, in 1919.
Working with farmers to showcase best practice and share practical learnings will help to reduce their environmental impact and support the farming industry’s transition to net zero, believes Tesco.
Given the technical and financial challenges that lie ahead, a focus on testing new approaches and technical developments in a commercial setting to show what can be achieved will significantly accelerate supply chain progress.
Tesco’s recently launched ‘Greenprint for UK Farming’ report highlights the need to get innovative technology on farms, with 72% of farmers surveyed saying they want to make their farms more environmentally friendly but lack the knowledge and funding to do so.
Tesco is launching two new low carbon concept farms, one with potato supplier Branston and another with livestock processor ABP © Tesco
The retailer has unveiled long-term low carbon concept farms to help farmers and suppliers reduce emissions and scale innovative approaches.
The farms – one in partnership with potato supplier Branston and the other with livestock processor ABP – will demonstrate a route to net zero.
By sharing the learnings from these sites with the broader supply chain, farmers can translate the findings and make informed decisions about the future direction of their businesses, says Tesco’s head of sustainable agriculture and fisheries Natalie Smith.
Natalie Smith, Head of Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries at Tesco © Tesco
“When it comes to accessing new technology and implementing innovation, our farmers want to understand the cost implications and any likely impact on their farms before they commit,” she says.
“Our low carbon concept sites are fairly standard farms that other farmers can relate to,” she adds. “By establishing a baseline and then monitoring, measuring and managing any changes introduced, they will show the art of the possible.”
Making farming more sustainable and resilient requires a two-way exchange of ideas and will take time, she continues.
“It’s about incremental improvement, backed up with learning and testing. We know that some technology will fail and we are prepared to take on some of that risk, rather than our farmers having to shoulder it all.”
Reducing the carbon footprint of potato production is one of the key aims for the farm launched in partnership with potato supplier Branston.
© Tesco
The farm will evaluate existing and cutting-edge innovations to see if they can reduce emissions and offer a return on investment, as well as monitoring any impact on crop yield and quality.
Mark Willcox, agronomy director at Branston is optimistic about what can be achieved and points out that the growing and storing of potatoes accounts for around one quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions that the supply chain is responsible for.
“There are four main areas of interest with potato production – fertiliser, fuel use, cultivations and cold storage – as these are all big contributors.
“So incorporating low carbon fertilisers into the growing system, reducing soil disturbance, using low energy cold storage and fossil fuel alternatives should have a significant effect.”
Mark notes that inroads are being made all the time. “Some of these innovations have been in trials for a while, such as CCM Technologies fertiliser with its 60% carbon reduction and soil health benefit, others are in their early stages.
“Another good example is a low energy cold store which has been reimagined and designed accordingly. It has shown to be 40% better in terms of electricity use.”
Branston works closely with 120 contract growers across three regions and they will all be taken to the low carbon concept farm during the year.
© Tesco
“We’re in this together,” he stresses. “Our growers are keen to deliver the change that’s needed but only want to take acceptable risks. The low carbon demonstration site will be central to developing that understanding.
“There are half a dozen things that are doable and come with a marginal cost. It’s about keeping it real for our growers.”
By giving farmers in Tesco’s supply network the skills and knowledge that they need to farm more sustainably, the sector will become more resilient and be able to innovate and succeed.
A Greenprint for UK Farming: Working in partnership with UK farmers to deliver a more sustainable food system: Read the Greenprint report