Waitrose has been awarded the Sustainable Food and Farming Award for its groundbreaking “Farming for Nature” initiative at the Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) 2024 Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.
This prestigious accolade recognises Waitrose’s commitment to supporting its UK farmers in producing higher welfare meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and eggs in ways that protect, improve, and restore wildlife and the environment.
The award highlights Waitrose’s work at the Leckford Estate, the only farm owned by a British supermarket. Spanning 2,800 acres in Hampshire, the farm is a model for regenerative agricultural practices. A third of the estate is dedicated to biodiversity, with the remaining land managed using regenerative agriculture principles to enhance the natural environment.
Since 2019, Waitrose has rigorously tested and measured various regenerative farming practices at Leckford, based on six core principles. These practices have delivered environmental benefits, including increased biodiversity, improved soil health, reduced carbon emissions and decreased chemical inputs.
Building on the success at Leckford, Waitrose is expanding its regenerative farming initiative to a variety of satellite farms and has committed to sourcing all UK meat, milk, eggs, fruit, and vegetables from farms using regenerative practices by 2035.
To further promote sustainable farming, Waitrose plans to transform Leckford into a Regenerative Agriculture Centre of Excellence. This centre will provide education, tools and inspiration to other farmers interested in adopting regenerative practices.
“We need a resilient food system that is kinder to nature and recognizes the incredible value of healthy soil,” said Andrew Hoad, head of Leckford Estate. “We believe a regenerative approach has the potential to achieve this. We are excited to extend our work at Leckford by now working with other farmers in supporting the transition to regenerative agriculture across our UK-based farmers and growers.”
Dr Tracey Jones, global director of food business, Compassion in World Farming said: “Waitrose has long been a leader in farm animal welfare, and this year we are proud to recognise their leadership in advancing sustainability through regenerative, low-carbon farming at their Leckford Estate. Their holistic approach to tackling broader environmental issues is delivering positive results for increased biodiversity, healthier soils, and reduced carbon emissions. Their commitment to transitioning all UK supply chain farms to regenerative practices by 2035 and transforming Leckford into a Regenerative Agriculture Centre of Excellence is truly commendable.”
This award underscores Waitrose’s leadership in sustainable farming and its dedication to producing high-quality food with minimal environmental impact.
