UK retailer Tesco commits US$1.87M to expanded farm data programme

UK – Tesco has widened its environmental data baselining programme and renewed its appeal for a national farm data framework, saying a consistent approach is needed to support the UK’s food security.

The company said its expanded initiative will now exceed US$1.87 million in total support and will launch a new Sustainable Farming Programme designed to help British beef and lamb farmers collect environmental data at scale.

Tesco confirmed that Tesco UK CEO Ashwin Prasad will deliver the call for a national framework during a gathering of farmers and suppliers at the retailer’s headquarters.

This announcement follows findings from a Tesco survey of several hundred UK farmers, which showed that 91 percent want the Government to increase efforts to strengthen farming resilience.

While most respondents indicated they want to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, 96 percent said inconsistent standards and uneven reporting systems remain major obstacles.

A further 73 percent said they struggle to bring new technology onto their farms, and 64 percent pointed to soil health as a pressing issue.

To address these concerns, Tesco said the extended programme, run in partnership with the Soil Association Exchange, will involve 360 beef and lamb farmers from its Sustainable Farming Groups and will focus on gathering soil, water, and biodiversity data at an unprecedented scale.

The retailer said the first year of the programme will set clear baseline measurements for each participating farm and provide personalised recommendations aimed at improving resilience and day-to-day operations.

Prasad said farmers are under growing pressure due to rising costs, climate-related challenges, and policy uncertainty, adding that many believe a unified reporting framework is necessary for tracking progress across the sector.

He said access to reliable data and consistent expectations would ease the reporting burden and help the industry identify effective practices more quickly.

Calls for sector-wide cooperation

Former National Farmers’ Union president Baroness Minette Batters said farmers cannot meet sustainability targets without coordinated backing and argued that a national baselining system is needed for fair measurement and long-term planning.

She added that the wider supply chain must work together to support farms through this transition.

Tesco said the new programme builds on its Greenprint for UK Farming report released earlier in the year, which encouraged the adoption of standardised data to support business planning and environmental improvements.

Soil Association Exchange CEO Joseph Gridley said the collaboration shows how structured information, expert advice, and targeted funding can guide farmers through a period of significant uncertainty.

He said farmers are already working to become more sustainable but require clearer industry support to utilise independent data and strengthen both resilience and profitability fully.

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