Weetabix Cuts Wheat Emissions by 50% Through New Farming Trial

Weetabix Food Company has achieved a 50% reduction in wheat-related farm emissions through a new sustainable agriculture trial that could reshape how cereals are grown in the UK. Known for its flagship Weetabix brand, alongside Alpen and Ready Brek, the company has teamed up with its network of local farmers to reduce greenhouse gases at the source.

At the heart of this effort is the Weetabix Grower’s Group, a collective of over 120 farmers who work within 50 miles of the company’s mills. Together, they farm more than four million acres and deliver around 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Weetabix each year.

Six of these farmers took part in a pilot initiative called the Lower Carbon Wheat Project. The focus? Reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers, especially nitrogen, by switching to natural alternatives like cover crops and fertilisers made with molasses or manure. The results were impressive. One of the participating farms, managed by Duncan Farrington, cut synthetic nitrogen use by 20% over three years without any drop in crop yield. At the same time, the carbon footprint of his wheat was cut in half.

Weetabix Food Company’s managing director, Colm O’Dwyer, said: “This lower carbon wheat project is a game-changer, not just for Weetabix but for the wider food industry and the future of sustainable agriculture in the UK.

“Taking a farmer-led approach has been vital to the success of this project, as making sure that the pilot scheme reflects the diversity of farming, soil types and climate conditions amongst growers is essential in order to scale the project and to be economically viable.”

The project was supported by Map of Ag and the European Food and Farming Partnerships, long-time collaborators with Weetabix in tracking carbon data across its wheat supply chain.

Wheat alone accounts for 37% of Weetabix Food Company’s annual emissions. To keep its footprint in check, the company sources all its wheat locally, ensuring it travels no more than 50 miles from the field to the mill.

Although the company hasn't set a specific emissions reduction target tied to raw material sourcing, it does hold its suppliers to rigorous sustainability standards. That includes compliance with an updated Wheat Protocol, now aligned with the UK Government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive.

In its latest sustainability report, Weetabix signalled plans to possibly scale up the Lower Carbon Wheat Project. With early results this promising, it’s clear the company is sowing the seeds for a more climate-friendly breakfast—one farm at a time.

“By progressing along our roadmap through this test and learn approach, we aim to develop a robust and flexible incentive model for all our Growers Group members to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the wheat we source,” the report states.