Supermarket chain Waitrose have announced that they have awarded their £500,000 fund, launched to help British farmers transition to net zero, to nine farming projects.
The winning farms cover a wide variety of sectors within agriculture, ranging from livestock to fruit and vegetable production.
According to Waitrose, its ‘Farming for Nature’ initiative commits to reach a net zero target across all of their UK farms by 2035 and the entire supply chain by 2050.
Waitrose invited over 2,000 farmers -all of whom directly supply the supermarket chain -to apply with proposals for innovative projects that reduce agricultural emissions and build resilience in farming.
The nine selected farms will now implement projects designed to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.
Net zero fund
The funded projects will explore a variety of low carbon innovations which include, but not limited to, water and fertiliser recycling, as well converting waste materials like poultry manure into fertiliser.
They also plan on establishing wild habitats and traditional farming methods. They will also be testing cover cropping in orchards.
Some of the farms plan to introduce agroforestry and wildflower planting for better water management, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Other applicants will be exploring renewable energy and emissions tracking systems on their farms.
Waitrose managing director, James Bailey said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support our farmers with projects that will not only help drive down real emissions but help them invest in their futures.
“It’s a challenging time for farmers, yet we saw a real ambition from applicants to the fund to drive forward climate and nature friendly farming.
“We’re excited to see the projects come to life and all the amazing benefits they will bring.”
Waitrose mission
Waitrose emphasised that it is keen to source products from local farmers for their own brand fresh produce.
The company is currently supporting over 2,000 British farmers to move to more nature-friendly practices.
It also has its own farm, the Leckford Estate, which helps in its mission to have fresh British food on their counters at all times.
According to the company, Leckford Estate and the ‘Farming for Nature’ fund focus on regenerative agriculture, which improves soil, water and air quality.
Regenerative agriculture also enhances ecosystem biodiversity, produce nutrient-dense food, and store carbon to help mitigate the effects of climate change, the statement by Waitrose said.
