The Waitrose Farming Partnership is the new umbrella under which all its agricultural farmer-focused initiatives will now fall.
In front of industry leaders and politicians, Waitrose set out details of the WFP which includes steps to help its farmers better manage costs in their businesses. It will also carry out new research to help reduce livestock producers’ dependence on imported soyabeans for animal feed.
One of the first pieces of work involves a new branded membership of Anglia Farmers, the UK’s biggest agricultural buying co-operative. The membership is open to all Waitrose UK-based farmers, giving them access to significant savings on all farm supplies, according to the company.
Waitrose also detailed research into domestically grown protein for livestock which, it is hoped, will help reduce farmer dependence on imported soya for animal feed.
The work with other partner organisations on improving the availability UK-sourced protein feed comes in two parts: through new Faba bean varieties and research into forage protein for ruminants.
The £2m Optibean project – as the Faba bean work is known – came out of a competition for research and development funding, focusing on the challenge of sustainable protein production.
Source: Waitrose
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