During the Oxford Farming Conference held on January 9, 2024, Tesco’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ashwin Prasad, urged the government to establish a more defined vision for sustainable agriculture. He emphasized the need for increased investment and greater clarity surrounding policy.
This call to action stems from a recent study conducted by Tesco in partnership with Harper Adams University, which gathered insights from over 300 UK farmers regarding the industry’s future sustainability.
The survey revealed that 74% of respondents are deeply concerned about climate change’s impact on their operations, with 67% already witnessing its effects. However, 76% reported that high upfront costs, the risk of inadequate financial returns, and uncertainty in policy have hindered their ability to implement desired environmental measures.
Tesco advocates for improved government funding for sustainability innovations and the establishment of common environmental standards. These standards would allow farmers to measure their progress consistently, thereby prioritizing investment in the most effective and sustainable farming practices.
In addition to this, Tesco pledged to continue supporting the agricultural sector by clarifying sustainability requirements and standards. Their efforts include assisting farmers in simplifying and standardizing data collection and exploring innovative models and incentives to help mitigate investment risks.
Tesco’s Low-Carbon Farm Trials
To advance these initiatives, Tesco will collaborate with two of its suppliers to trial new technologies aimed at sharing knowledge on scaling sustainable approaches.
The trials involve one farm partnering with potato supplier Branston and another with livestock processor ABP. These farms will investigate both current and emerging innovations—including low-carbon fertilizers, alternative fuels, advanced cold storage, and carbon removal techniques. Additional areas of focus will include soil health, grazing management, biodiversity assessment and management, and genetic improvements.
“As the biggest customer of UK agriculture, we know providing our customers with healthy, affordable and sustainable food wouldn’t be possible without the expertise and dedication of our farmers across the country,” stated Prasad.
“But to continue to thrive in the future, the industry needs more certainty and support. Many of the solutions we need exist today, but government and the food industry need to ensure we have the right incentives in place so that UK agriculture can reach its potential as a driver of both sustainability and economic growth.”
“We’ve already been working with farmers to help them reduce their environmental impact, from providing incentives to measure their carbon footprint to rolling out new innovations like low-carbon fertilizers. We’re pleased to build on this further with our new low-carbon test farms, working with some of our supplier partners to pioneer new approaches that help us understand the most effective ways to reduce emissions and environmental impact while continuing to provide the British public with great quality food at a price they can afford.”
What Is Government Doing to Support Farmers?
During the Oxford Farming Conference, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed made several commitments to further assist farmers, as protests against last year’s inheritance tax changes unfolded outside the venue.
The government promised actions related to planning permissions, flood defenses, grid connectivity, and a bold initiative to increase the availability of local produce in schools, army bases, and prisons.
Reed also highlighted the necessity of making it easier for farmers to engage in research and benefit from agri-tech.
To support this, the government will launch the latest segment of its Farming Innovation Programme, known as the ADOPT fund, in the Spring. This fund aims to finance farmer-led trials to bridge the gap between new technologies and their practical applications in the field.
Additionally, he confirmed that secondary legislation would be presented in Parliament by the end of March. This legislation will unlock new precision breeding technologies, enabling farmers to cultivate crops that are more nutritious, resilient to pests and diseases, adaptable to climate change, and beneficial to the environment.