Premier Foods trials low carbon fertiliser on UK wheat farms

Premier Foods has begun a low carbon fertiliser trial on 165 acres of wheat farmland in southern England. Credit: Premier Foods

Premier Foods has begun a low carbon fertiliser trial on 165 acres of wheat farmland in southern England, in a bid to cut supply chain emissions and accelerate its path to Net Zero.

The trial, announced today, is being delivered in partnership with agricultural supplier Bartholomews. It will test fertiliser made using renewable energy, applied with precision technology to reduce the amount needed overall while providing a more controlled release of nutrients and minimising environmental impact.

The two farmers involved in the trial are also receiving funding to adopt regenerative practices that improve soil health.

“As well as selling flour under our McDougalls and Be-Ro brands, we use flour in around half of all the products we make, so helping British farmers transition to lower carbon wheat is an essential part of our ambitions to reduce the environmental impact of our business,” said Gareth Pullan, Director of Procurement at Premier Foods.

“This trial is only the beginning. Our longer-term intention is to take the learnings from this trial to understand how we can support the wider adoption of lower carbon farming across more of the farms growing wheat and other crops across our supply chain.”

Sue Taylor, Lead Director at Bartholomews, added: “At Bartholomews, we believe the path to lower carbon food begins with joined-up thinking from field to table. We’re delighted to be collaborating with Premier Foods, allowing us to bridge the gap between agronomy, soil health and practical on-farm practices – using real data and innovational inputs to cut emissions where it matters most. Working directly with farmers and food brands is key to scaling sustainable change.”

Support is vital for low carbon farming transition

One of the farmers involved, Andrew Burchmore, based in Wiltshire, said the support is vital to implementing lower carbon methods.

He added:

Farmers depend on the land for their livelihoods so looking after it is vital. A trial like this, where we are supported with new technology, extra funding and expert advice, is essential to help us transition to lower carbon farming, and it’s great to be working with Premier Foods on this summer’s crop.”

Premier Foods’ broader strategy

The fertiliser trial forms part of Premier Foods’ broader “Enriching Life Plan” sustainability strategy, which includes targets to cut carbon emissions, improve water use efficiency and reformulate products to meet nutritional standards.

The company has already reported a 30 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2020/21 and says further agriculture-focused initiatives are planned.

Commenting on the company’s progress under its Enriching Life Plan, Premier Foods ESG Director Nick Brown said: “As one of the UK’s leading food producers we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to forge a healthier future for our planet and everyone on it. The three pillars of our Enriching Life Plan show how we’re determined to make a difference across all aspects of our business, from what we source and how we source it, to the products we make and the communities we operate in.

“It’s a testament to the commitment of colleagues across the whole business that we’ve been able to demonstrate progress across so many areas in the past financial year, with lots of work already in train to go even further in future.”