Waitrose launches US$659,050 fund to back British farmers going green

UK – Waitrose has announced a new £500,000 (US$659,050) fund to help British farmers reduce carbon emissions and build more sustainable farming systems.

The move is part of the retailer’s broader Farming for Nature programme, which aims to support farmers as they shift to environmentally friendly practices.

The money will be used to support both small and large projects aimed at cutting emissions and improving climate resilience on farms that supply Waitrose.

Grants will be offered to British farmers and producers to support a range of improvements. These could include installing rainwater tanks, switching to sustainable fertilisers, and upgrading to low-emission heating systems or soil-friendly machinery. The new fund builds on Waitrose’s existing £1 million (US$1.32) investment in Farming for Nature.

James Bailey, executive director at Waitrose, stressed that the programme recognises the different needs of individual farms.

“We know every farm is unique and we want to ensure that our Waitrose farmers have the support they need to make nature-friendly changes that work for them,” said Bailey.

“The fund is about giving farmers access to financial backing to invest in sustainable practices that will benefit their farms in the long run and support a rapid reduction in the carbon footprint of the food we eat.”

Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, also noted that the funding will support Waitrose’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions across its UK supply chain by 2035.

“With our commitment to our UK farming supply base reaching net zero by 2035, it’s key that we work closely with our suppliers and farmers and go on this journey with them, by supporting them to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the products they supply to Waitrose,” said Rompani.

“We’re proud to work with fantastic British suppliers and farmers and look forward to supporting them through this fund to innovate, scale and deliver the low-carbon products our customers want.”

Government welcomes private sector support

The fund has also received support from government officials. Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, praised the effort and stressed its importance for the future of farming in the UK.

“Climate change is a significant threat to agriculture and our broader food system, and reducing emissions from the sector is vital to meeting our net-zero commitments,” said Zeichner.

“I’m extremely pleased to see new funds, such as Waitrose’s net-zero farm fund, support the adoption of low-carbon farming practices.”

He added that such efforts match the government’s focus on making farming more profitable while protecting essential natural resources like soil and water.

This announcement comes shortly after Waitrose joined forces with Rothamsted Research to test and trial climate-friendly methods on UK farms.

The trials, which are part of a longer-term research partnership, will focus on what works best in different conditions, giving farmers more options as they make their operations greener.

UK farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide and methane. Agriculture accounts for 71% of total nitrous oxide emissions and 49% of methane emissions in the UK. However, it only contributes 1.9% of total carbon dioxide emissions.

Between 1990 and 2021, total agricultural emissions decreased by 12%, mainly due to a reduction in livestock numbers and synthetic fertiliser usage. Despite this, sheep emissions intensity increased by 5%, while emissions from cattle, dairy, and pigs decreased

With this fund and the new research partnership, Waitrose is stepping up its efforts to back British farmers as they face growing environmental and economic challenges.

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