Our Mission

At Waitrose, we’ve always shown respect for nature, animals and the people who make our products. Now we’re going one step further with our Farming for Nature initiative.

Building on our commitment to reach net zero across our UK farms by 2035, we’re supporting more than 2000 British farmers to move to more nature-friendly practices. This will help to both combat the effects of climate change and ensure our farms have the financial and logistical support needed to help us reach our targets.

Farming for Nature reassures customers that when they shop with Waitrose they are contributing to a food system that restores and works in harmony with the natural world.

Where it Began

At Waitrose we believe in responsible retailing. We aim to set the standard across multiple areas - not just food quality, but ethics, sustainability and customer experience too.

The Leckford Estate is a unique asset owned by Waitrose, a 2,800 acre working farm and country estate in Hampshire. Our ambition there is to continue practising regenerative farming techniques that focus on topsoil regeneration, improving the water cycle as well as increasing carbon capture, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.

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What Drives Us

Waitrose has a critical role to play in transforming the food system and creating more sustainable food that is good for people and nature.

Helping our food lovers feel good about what they buy because they know Waitrose takes care of ethical and sustainability concerns is at the forefront of what we do.

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What are the 6 Regenerative Practices?

We believe that farming is not just about growing food. We believe we are also investing in a healthier planet for generations to come and this mindset of regenerative farming is based on 6 key principles:

Understanding Farm Context

Regenerative farming aims to bring a balance between Nature and farming.

Minimise Soil Disturbance

The earth is the home to the flora and fauna supporting regeneration.

Maximise Crop Diversity

Diverse plant life attracts insects and promotes a balanced ecosystem.

Keep Soil Covered

This not only helps to protect soil structure, it also helps to enhance soil health.

Maintain Living Root

The presence of living roots helps to feed the microbial life within the soil.

Integrate Livestock

Animals graze vegetation naturally, fertilise the soil and contribute to biodiversity.

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Becoming Carbon Net Zero

As part of Waitrose's broader Farming for Nature programme, Waitrose has set up the Net Zero Farm Fund - a £500,000 initiative from Waitrose to support British farmers in transitioning to net zero emissions.

There’s still a lot to do to achieve this by 2035 but we are already making changes now.

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Celebrating our Success

We are proud of the recognition we have received that recognises our dedication to excellence, innovation and care in agriculture. These honours reflect the hard work of our team and the impact of our work across the industry.

Winner for Sustainable Food & Farming CiWF Award

Awarded in 2024 for our groundbreaking "Farming for Nature" initiative at the Compassion in World Farming Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

Compassion in World Farming - Best Retailer

Won four consecutive years in a row, we are extremely proud of how we continually improve the care for our animals.

Compassion in World Farming - Best Retailer Innovation

Awarded in 2022 for developing and implementing the first Qualitative Behavioural Assessment App to measure the emotional wellbeing of animals.

The Benefits To You and Nature

From producing healthier, better tasting food with fewer chemicals to being friendlier to the environment, your small changes can have a huge impact too.

There are a number of activities you can do, from your eating habits and choice of where to buy produce, that over time will have a huge positive impact on farming. Be part of this Farming for Nature initiative too!

Understand the benefits

The Team Making It Happen

It is the wonderful collaborative effort between Waitrose, the Leckford Estate and over 2000 British farmers, who all have a passion for regenerative farming, that are pushing the change in farming practices to create a better world for all of us.

The satellite farmers The Leckford Team

Our Expert Partners

As well as the exceptional people in the core team, we have the support of three chosen partners who are experts in what they do, such as LEAF, Land App and the University of Reading.

These partners bring specialist skills to the project, including tools to accelerate success - technological integrations, such as digital mapping provided by Land App, to create Baseline Habitat Assessments and Land Management Plans. These tools assist farmers in monitoring environmental metrics and planning regenerative practices effectively.

LEAF

University of Reading

Land App

Soil Association Exchange

Meet our partners

In the Press

Waitrose Partners with Land App

Waitrose teams up with digital mapping tool, Land App, to revolutionise sustainable farming with the adoption of nature-friendly practices in the UK.

Supporting Farmers to Net Zero

Waitrose has funded a campaign for over 2000 UK farmers to support projects for the adoption of low carbon farming practices.

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Support British Farmers Today

The farming community in the UK are custodians of the beautiful and diverse agricultural land and the animal life it sustains. But we are all part of this eco system. From the food we eat to the produce used day-to-day, these agricultural outputs are critical to our way of life. Our behaviours and purchasing habits can have a huge impact on the ability of farmers to farm regeneratively.

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Farming for Nature

Agriculture that works in Partnership with Nature