Co-op Launches £820,000 Fund to Boost Sustainable Farming in the UK

Retailer Co-op has unveiled a new £820,000 fund designed to support sustainable farming practices across the UK. The fund will provide financial incentives to farmers in the beef, lamb, and dairy sectors who take steps to reduce carbon emissions and promote nature on their farms.

This significant investment will be split across two key projects, offering sustainability payments above the price farmers already receive for their products. The first project will see Co-op partner with the Soil Association Exchange to help 140 farmers in its Dairy Farming Group reduce their carbon footprints and improve biodiversity and soil health.

Farmers in the program will receive rewards based on actions like cutting fertiliser use, boosting fuel efficiency, and investing in renewable energy, such as solar panels. The second initiative, Co-op’s Beef Sustainability Scheme, rewards farmers for adopting sustainable practices on their farms. This project, which follows a successful two-year pilot, will expand to cover 15% of Co-op's beef supply chain this year and, for the first time, include lamb farmers.

Over five years, the scheme aims to save more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon, with farmers taking action to breed more efficient animals, improve forage quality, and reduce environmental impact. Tom Bramall, chair of the Co-op Dairy Group, emphasised the need for additional support for farmers to become more sustainable in challenging times. "It’s fantastic to see the Co-op directly rewarding farmers and recognising the positive role we play in addressing climate change,” he said.

This move follows similar initiatives from other retailers, such as Tesco’s new low-carbon farms to trial greener farming methods, underscoring the growing commitment to sustainability within the food supply chain.