McCain has announced its new UK Farm of the Future, which aims to develop and test regenerative agriculture techniques for its global network of farmers
Food manufacturer McCain is the largest purchaser of the British potato crop, buying approximately 20% of the market from 250 farmers across the country.
The company has announced the launch of a new Farm of the Future, which will act as a research site to develop and trial regenerative practices.
Max Koeune, President and CEO at McCain Foods, says: “McCain Farm of the Future UK marks an important step in how we are scaling regenerative agriculture across our global Farms of the Future.
“Each site helps us test real solutions with farmers, understand what works and share that knowledge across our network.
“This is how we strengthen the resilience of our farms, support our partners and build a more sustainable food system for the long term.”
The UK Farm of the Future reflects McCain’s commitment to implementing regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of its global potato acreage by 2030.
Spanning 202-hectares, the farm will launch in North Yorkshire in 2026, close to McCain GB’s headquarters.
The farm will adopt practices including controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover and biodiversity building.
This project is taking place in collaboration with the University of Leeds, which will help to develop a scientific and teaching partnership while providing independent data validation across soil health, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions.
It will be the first Farm of the Future location to pilot a circular nutrient system, in partnership with the University’s National Pig Centre.
This method will include using pig manure to enrich soil and reduce waste, as well as demonstrating how mixed farming systems aim to improve soil health and biodiversity while lowering emissions.
Professor Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, says: “The University of Leeds is committed to helping address global challenges including food security and the climate crisis.
“Our partnership with McCain at their Farm of the Future in the UK is a clear example of our joint ambition to promote farming practices which minimise environmental impact.
“Establishing this 20-year agreement will enable us to further develop research expertise in soil health and land productivity that can benefit farming approaches worldwide.”
