Supermarket demands that farmers become CO2 neutral

British supermarket chain Morrisons announced on Monday (March 8) that it wants to be carbon neutral from 2030. This puts the company 2 years ahead of the competition. The company also requires its suppliers to produce carbon neutrally, including the approximately 5 farmers who supply Morrisons.

The United Kingdom is the first G7 country to legislate towards zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The British agricultural sector accounts for 10% of CO2 emissions. The National Farmers Union has asked its members to take measures to ensure that they work CO2040-neutrally from 2. British supermarket chains are more ambitious and have set a target of 2035. In the Netherlands, these developments are slower. But here too, supermarket chains have plans to reduce CO2 emissions. For example, Ahold Delhaize wants to halve its CO2 emissions compared to 2018.

Important customer
Morrisons is the fourth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. The company is the largest buyer for British farmers. Approximately 3.000 farms supply directly to Morrison. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our generation and food production plays a major role in greenhouse gas emissions,” said David Potts, Morrisons Director. "As the largest buyer of UK farmers, we are in a unique position to guide and support our agricultural suppliers towards more sustainable production methods."

The measures that farmers can take include other (animal) breeds, the use of locally produced animal feed, the use of renewable energy and limiting the use of artificial fertilizers. It is also possible to sow permanent grassland and plant trees or hedges.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

Is editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses mainly on the arable farming sectors and the feed and energy market. Jurphaas also has an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland). Every week he presents the Market Flash Grains

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.