Morrisons is launching a Farming Programme focused on research to help improve the efficiency and sustainability of British farming, in partnership with agricultural colleges and the National Farmers' Union (NFU).
The programme will feature three key research categories - driving efficiency, supply chain dialogue and investment in applied farm research - it hopes will improve its operations on a producer level.
Driving efficiency research will look at helping farmers to access best practice, for example through the launch of the Morrisons Farm Supply website. Supply chain dialogue research will look to encourage communication across the fresh produce industry and the investment in farm research, through Morrisons Farmer Groups, will look at working in partnership with leading agricultural colleges to improve research projects.
Morrisons is also planning to open two research farms. The first of these is a joint venture to establish a 700-acre farm on the Dumfries House Estate in East Ayrshire. Morrisons Farm at Dumfries House will work in a new partnership with the Scottish Agricultural College, with the support of NFU Scotland, to become one of the leading centres of excellence for applied farming research. The company is seeking to establish a similar venture in south-east England.
Marc Bolland, Morrisons chief executive, said: “Through our new Farming Programme we are investing in taking a leading role in applied farm research and making a contribution to helping the long-term sustainability of British farming.”
NFU president Peter Kendall, said: “We welcome Morrisons' new farming programme, and we are very keen to support and, where possible, partner this important initiative.
“The three key elements of this programme are critical issues for our industry. Therefore we see this as a significant commitment by Morrisons to the future of the industry and to the future supply of quality British food and we look forward to discussing and developing this further.”
Jim McLaren, president of NFU Scotland, said: “It is a real example to follow and by Morrisons investing in this way - not least by becoming farmers themselves - the understanding with the farming industry can be developed further. It is these kinds of initiatives that will help forge a sustainable future for our sector."
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