British farmers have until April 13 to apply for financial support from Waitrose’s newly launched ‘Net-Zero Farm Fund,’ a key initiative to drive the agricultural sector toward sustainability.
As part of its ambitious goal to ensure all British farmer suppliers achieve net-zero emissions by 2035, Waitrose is extending funding to small—and large-scale projects across diverse farm types. Eligible initiatives include low-carbon heating systems, zero-emission farm equipment, rainwater harvesting tanks, and the adoption of sustainable fertilizers—though the scope extends beyond these examples.
Waitrose’s 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.”
Harry Thompson, Waitrose chicken farmer for Pilgrim’s Europe, said partnerships between big retailers and suppliers are “important at a time when farmers are having a lot thrown at them.”
He added: “All support is greatly appreciated, and it really strengthens the farm-to-fork connection.”
This latest fund builds on Waitrose’s £1 million ‘Farming for Nature’ program, launched last year to promote nature-friendly, resilient farming practices. Farmers gain access to preferential financing for regenerative agriculture through this initiative, a guaranteed route to market, and hands-on support from the Leckford Estate farm’s ‘centre of excellence’ in Hampshire.
In January, the retailer also partnered with Land App, a digital mapping tool that helps farmers evaluate biodiversity on their land and create improvement plans. This reinforces Waitrose’s commitment to environmentally responsible agriculture.
Despite increasing awareness, UK agricultural emissions have remained unchanged since 2008, when the Climate Change Act was ratified. The Climate Change Committee (CCC)—the government’s official climate advisory body—attributes this stagnation to policy uncertainty, with frequent framework changes and delays stalling progress.
The CCC has warned that the sector needs “substantial acceleration” over the next seven years to meet climate targets. Ministers are currently refining post-Brexit farmer payment schemes, which reward landowners for conservation, decarbonization, and ecosystem restoration. A new land-use framework is under consultation to define a strategic balance between food security, environmental restoration, energy infrastructure, and housing development.
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