Waitrose Backs British Farmers with £500,000 Boost for Climate and Nature Projects

Waitrose is stepping up its climate action on British farms. The supermarket has unveiled how it plans to distribute a £500,000 funding pot to support climate-friendly projects across its UK supplier network. Among the initiatives receiving support are agroforestry on beef farms and fertiliser production from recycled chicken litter.

The fund, initially announced in March, is part of Waitrose’s broader goal to help every British farmer in its supply chain hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. It’s a bold target—but this latest round of funding suggests the supermarket is serious about making it happen.

Nine projects have been selected so far. Each one will be implemented on farms that supply Waitrose directly. Beyond simply cutting emissions, these trials aim to build resilience into farm operations and improve biodiversity.

Here’s what some of these farms are doing:

• Two beef farms are planting wildflowers and introducing agroforestry systems. These efforts should help reduce water runoff, pull more carbon into the soil, improve biodiversity, and provide essential shade for livestock. One of the farms is also upgrading its wetland management practices.

• Egg producers are planting fast-growing willow trees, which can later be harvested as biomass for renewable heating.

• Orchards are experimenting with cover crops. The idea is to reduce their reliance on artificial fertilisers and pesticides while also boosting soil health and fruit quality.

• Several dairy farms are rolling out digital tools to track and manage emissions. With help from outside experts, they’ll set up baselines and map out clear, costed carbon reduction pathways. A shared farm management platform will bring together real-time data on everything from operations to climate conditions.

• A group of soft fruit growers is developing wild habitats on their land. They’re also switching to UV robotics and lower-carbon fertilisers to reduce their dependency on chemical fungicides.

• A blackberry farm is tackling waste by installing a closed-loop system that recycles both water and fertiliser.

• A network of egg and broccoli farms is using poultry litter as fertiliser instead of buying chemical alternatives.

• And on chicken farms, that same litter is being processed, packaged, and turned into ready-to-use fertiliser.

All 2,000-plus British farms in Waitrose’s own-brand supply chains were invited to apply for a slice of the funding. This new pot comes on top of the £1 million already committed through Waitrose’s “Farming for Nature” initiative. Under that scheme, farmers gain access to better finance rates for regenerative practices, plus a guaranteed route to market and practical support from the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, which serves as Waitrose’s farming centre of excellence.

Why This Matters

Emissions from UK agriculture haven’t budged much since 2008—the year the Climate Change Act came into effect. The Climate Change Committee, the UK’s independent climate watchdog, says the sector is falling behind. They blame years of shifting policies and mixed messages from the government. The result is a lack of clear direction and insufficient changes among farmers.

That might be about to shift.

In the latest Spending Review, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the £2.7 billion annual budget for nature-friendly farming will be maintained despite earlier fears of cuts. Environmental groups and farming bodies had braced for the worst, but the confirmation brought a collective sigh of relief.

There’s more good news. Funding for Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes is set to increase from £800 million in 2023–24 to £2 billion by 2028–29. These programmes aim to improve soil quality, protect water supplies, enhance biodiversity, and boost climate resilience on farms nationwide.

However, not every department is coming out ahead. Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is facing a real-terms cut. Its day-to-day budget will shrink from £4.8 billion in 2025–26 to £4.7 billion by 2028–29 once inflation is factored in. That means funding will essentially return to 2023–24 levels.

There’s also a tax shake-up. From April 2026, agricultural assets worth over £1 million will no longer be exempt from inheritance tax. A flat 20 per cent rate will apply to anything above the threshold. The move has drawn criticism from farmers and industry groups who argue it could disincentivise long-term stewardship of the land.