Politics Home Article | Unearthing the potential of British farming

Visiting McCain growers across the country, I have the privilege of seeing the hard work that British farmers dedicate to feeding the nation. But, in recent years, they’ve faced a series of headwinds that have made this more difficult. Families who have farmed for generations are navigating the challenges of climate change, rising input costs, and the downstream impact of geopolitical conflict.

As the largest purchaser of British potatoes, working with 250 farmers across the country and buying around 20 per cent of the total market, McCain is committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of UK agriculture. We are proud to stand alongside British farmers as they produce quality food in this increasingly complex landscape.

While there is no silver bullet, Demos’ Growing Strong report demonstrates clear opportunities to reduce farmers’ exposure to these headwinds. The solution here is clear: we must transition from viewing sustainable farming purely as an environmental concern to recognising it as a cornerstone of national food security.

Sustainable farming also has the power to strengthen our economic security. Demos’ research shows that upscaling sustainable farming could drive £31.6bn in increased farm profitability filtering through the economy by 2050 and £56.3bn from enhanced natural capital across the UK by 2035. Crucially, with global adoption, it could lead to an average seven per cent reduction in annual food bills for consumers.

To bring change, we need industry to partner with policymakers. For its part, McCain is committed to implementing regenerative practices across 100 per cent of our global potato acreage by 2030 and just launched the McCain Farm of the Future UK to drive innovation that can unlock improved farming outcomes. However, to drive a widespread move from concept to reality, Demos concluded that the government must act in three key areas.

First, we must establish national farming baselines. The government should develop a standardised baseline for carbon, soil, water, and biodiversity outcomes. This would give farmers a clearer understanding of their asset base, enabling better business planning and risk management, while unlocking new market opportunities in carbon and nature markets. This data, aggregated by a trusted independent body, should be updated regularly and integrated into the Land Use Framework.

Second, we must bridge the skills gap. We urge the government to commission Skills England to review the practical demands of sustainable farming, from land management to data use. This review will ensure that investment in technology is matched by investment in people, creating a confident workforce to share knowledge via regional networks.

Finally, we must embed an understanding of sustainable farming impacts. The government should undertake a comprehensive analysis of how these practices benefit long-term profitability and share the findings through accessible training. Spreading this information will help address the perception gap, where many farmers underestimate the financial benefits of the transition.

While the challenges are significant, forthcoming government strategies such as the 25-year Farming Roadmap and the Land Use Framework have the potential to drive a sustainable farming future. The opportunity to build a resilient, profitable farming sector has never been greater.

To read the Growing Strong report, click here.