Tesco UK Chief Executive Ashwin Prasad today stressed the need for a partnership approach across the UK food system to build resilience, drive growth, and create a sustainable future for British farming.
In January we announced our fresh food sales had risen by 6.6% – proving the demand for fresh, healthy, British-grown food has never been stronger amongst our customers. I invite you to collaborate with us to meet that demand.
Ashwin said he believes the UK has the potential to be a global leader in sustainable, low carbon farming, pointing to progress already made across its supply chains.
Building resilience through data and innovation
Ashwin highlighted the importance of data in building resilience across the supply chain, as well as the adoption of practical, on-farm innovation. He described how Tesco had launched its own data baselining programme in November, “helping 360 of our beef and sheep farmers collect and use soil and nature data at scale for the first time.”
Ashwin also described how Tesco’s focus is getting practical innovation onto farms, following feedback from farmers that they “do not want more research that sits on the shelf,” but instead require “practical, on-farm solutions that solve challenges and deliver results.”
To that end, Tesco is working with suppliers to trial and scale new innovations such as low carbon fertilisers, alternative fuels and energy-efficient infrastructure at its low carbon concept farm in Lincolnshire, which has produced 260,000 2kg packs of potatoes that are currently on sale in Tesco stores.
Supporting farmers through Sustainable Farming Groups
Tesco is also continuing to work closely with its Sustainable Farming Groups (SFGs) to facilitate greater collaboration with farmers to share best practice, test new ideas and innovations, as well as support and incentivise sustainability initiatives.
Ashwin outlined the work Tesco is doing across its SFGs saying, “I fully recognise financial sustainability must be the cornerstone of the partnerships we have with you all. Our SFGs across dairy, beef, sheep, pigs, and produce benefit from transparent pricing structures, with each one specifically tailored to the needs of that sector. And because farmers have told us they need help achieving shared environmental goals, we’ve also introduced sustainability-linked incentives for over 400 farmers across the groups.”
The need for a clear strategy
Finally, Ashwin offered Tesco’s support in ensuring the forthcoming Government food strategy delivers long-term resilience for the sector:
“The food strategy must set a long-term vision for UK agriculture that creates a level playing field for all parts of the food industry, and protects the high standards we have developed. We must give all of you [British farmers] clarity on the role you can play in the UK’s wider transition to net zero, as well as create the right policy conditions for you to be able to invest in, and benefit from that transition.”
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