Waitrose has launched a £500,000 fund to help support its British farmers in their push for net zero.
The retailer said the net zero farm fund, part of the supermarket’s Farming For Nature programme, will help “finance projects by farmers and suppliers that will support the adoption of low carbon farming practices”.
The fund will issue grants to support Waitrose farmers and suppliers to pay for “projects that will reduce the carbon emissions associated with the products supplied to Waitrose,” as well as “helping boost resilience to combat the effects of climate change”.
Waitrose said funds would be made available both for smaller and larger projects, such as: “rainwater capture tanks and sustainable fertilisers”, to “low carbon heating systems and soil-friendly machinery”.
Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “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.
“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.”
John Lewis Partnership director of ethics and sustainability Marija Rompani said: “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.
“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.”
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