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Aldi has launched a new initiative with meat processor ABP to support British beef farmers in adopting more sustainable farming practices.
The ‘Grounded in Goodness’ programme will bring together around 1,000 beef farmers across England, Scotland and Wales. Participating farmers will commit to a range of on-farm actions focused on soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare.
In return, farmers will receive premium payments on top of standard market prices, as well as access to specialist agronomic advice and peer learning networks.
The initiative will begin recruiting farmers this month, with the first cohort expected to be fully onboarded by spring 2027.
A small group of Horizon Farmers, described by Aldi as pioneers in progressive farming, will help pilot new approaches under the scheme. They will work with Aldi and ABP to test practices and share learnings with the wider farming network.
Aldi said the initiative has been designed to provide farmers with practical support and financial certainty as they face rising input costs, climate pressures and changes to agricultural subsidy systems.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “Grounded in Goodness is designed to provide practical support and financial certainty that helps farmers invest in their businesses for the long term.”
She added that the programme had been developed in collaboration with ABP and farmers to recognise existing practices while providing a framework for farmers seeking to further improve sustainability.
“By investing in the farmers who supply us, we're helping to build a stronger, more resilient British beef supply chain that is fit for the future,” Ashfield said.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) welcomed the initiative, highlighting the role retailers can play in supporting British agriculture and encouraging sustainable farming practices.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “By recognising and rewarding the environmentally beneficial actions that are already being delivered on our farms, this scheme provides a strong incentive for further sustainable farming practices, while supporting profitable beef production.”
Clare Wise, NFU livestock board chair, added that the scheme could help provide farmers with the confidence needed to invest in their businesses and support growth in the domestic beef sector.
Aldi said ‘Grounded in Goodness’ forms part of its wider sustainability strategy and represents a long-term investment in the resilience of British beef production.
The programme will focus on practical measures across three key areas – soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare – with participating farmers able to access technical expertise alongside financial incentives.
The retailer said the involvement of Horizon Farmers would help ensure that the approaches tested through the programme are practical and deliverable at farm level, while enabling lessons to be shared across the wider network.
