Co-op invests £820k in Sustainable Farming Initiatives

The Co-operative Group (Co-op) is one of the largest consumer cooperatives in the world. The group is based in the UK and is owned and run by 5.5 million members. It primarily focuses on food retailing, emphasising ethical practices, community benefits and sustainability. 

Co-op was established in 1844 as a modern cooperative movement. Today it employs 55,000 people and has an annual turnover of £11bn (Approx US$13.5bn).

Co-op launches £820k fund for sustainable farming

Co-op is a significant contributor to the UK economy. The group is further backing British farmers with a new £820k fund to support sustainable farming efforts. 

This fund builds on the company's investment in UK agriculture. Since 2014 the Co-op has sourced 100% of its fresh and frozen chicken, pork, beef and lamb from British farms. As well as only selling British milk, cream and free-range eggs, supporting UK dairy and egg farmers.

In addition, the group has established dedicated farming groups for dairy, beef, lamb, chicken and pork farmers, consistently offered farmers fixed and fair pricing contracts, supported farmers in adopting sustainable practices and partnered with organisations to train farmers in sustainable agriculture.

The new investment will see farmers directly rewarded for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting nature on their farms across beef, lamb and dairy sectors as part of two new sustainability projects.

“We know British farmers are facing many challenges and have seen firsthand the fear, anxiety and anger they are currently feeling,” says Matt Hood, Managing Director at Co-op.

“Backing UK agriculture is more important than ever - at Co-op, this means investing hundreds of millions every year to be one of the few UK retailers to be totally 100% British across meat, poultry and dairy throughout our own supply chain and committing support for farmers addressing the growing need for sustainability and climate resilience.

"We know our members and customers feel the same and they value being able to buy the high quality, British-sourced products they love.”

Project one

The first project will focus on the dairy sector. The Co-op will partner with the Soil Association Exchange to support 140 farmers in its Dairy Farming Group to reduce their carbon footprint and begin to baseline key nature indicators like biodiversity and soil health.

Sustainability payments will be rewarded to the farms as part of the project. 

Project two

The second project will focus on Co-op’s Beef Sustainability Scheme. This project will reward farmers for adopting on-farm sustainable practices and will be open to members of the Co-op’s farming Group.

Following a successful two-year pilot, the scheme will be extended to 15% of the Co-op’s beef supply chain in 2025 and include lamb farmers for the first time.

It is expected that more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon will be saved under the programme over five years.

“In these uncertain times for our industry, we need to work together across the supply chain. Farmers like me, want to play our part when it comes to sustainability, but we need support,” adds Tom Bramall, dairy farmer and Chair of the Co-op Dairy Group.

“It’s fantastic to see the Co-op directly rewarding farmers and recognise the positive role we play in addressing the issues around climate change. I appreciate the significant investment this is for Co-op in us and look forward to working in partnership with them over the coming years.”

What does this mean for the global farming industry?

Forming part of Co-op's broader strategy to reduce its environmental impact and support its suppliers in doing the same, the scheme furthers Co-op’s investment in innovation, productivity and improved climate resilience in agriculture.

The announcement of the £820k fund promotes a model where sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand. It encourages a broader adoption of similar investments in the wider farming community. 

The fund also demonstrates a practical framework to integrate sustainability into supply chains and acts as an inspiration for others to develop similar programmes. 

By focusing on actionable steps like reducing fertilizer use, increasing fuel efficiency and promoting solar energy, Co-op aids in building a climate-resilient agricultural sector. Scaling these efforts could reduce vulnerabilities to climate change and improve global food security. 

Additionally, saving over 100,000 tonnes of carbon over five years and improving soil health and biodiversity are critical contributions to global climate goals.

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