Waitrose’s commitment to grow grapes and apples and pears sustainably has earned them a significant achievement.
The retailer’s orchard and vineyards at the Leckford Estate in Hampshire have become the first in the UK to achieve Regenified™ certification, a global leader in regenerative agriculture verification.
The push for more produce is a pivotal step towards having a permanent Centre of Excellence at the farm. It will provide practical tools, workshops, online resources and mentoring to help farmers to make the shift to regenerative agriculture.
The process has been in the works since 2021.
“Our commitment to regenerative farming reflects our belief that producing high-quality products and caring for the environment go hand in hand,” Andrew Hoad, Head of the Leckford Estate, said. “This builds on our regenerative farming journey and we hope to see more farmers embrace similar practices which could lead to certification.”
To achieve certification, Leckford met Regenified’s rigorous Verification Standard – based on six principles, three rules, and four processes, or 6-3-4. Regenified’s certification process will also help the Leckford Estate track its progress in advancing regenerative principles.
“We are delighted that the Waitrose Leckford vineyards and orchards have achieved Regenified Certification – a UK first for the vineyard and a pan-European first for apple and pear orchards,” Salar Shemirani, Co-Founder and CEO, Regenified said. “The widespread adoption of true regenerative agriculture is vital for the future of all of us, and I congratulate Waitrose on their brave adoption of a better way of farming for nature. I’m very excited for Regenified to be a part of the ongoing Waitrose regenerative journey.”
By adopting nature-friendly techniques – such as the use of florally diverse species in the alleys between the rows of apple trees and vines and the replacement of herbicides with the use of mechanical weed trimmers – the vineyard and orchard aim to not only produce exceptional products but also contribute to the overall health of the environment by increasing plant diversity and minimising soil disturbance. Products using fruit from this harvest onwards, such as the Leckford Estate Brut, will have the Certified Regenified seal, highlighting the achievement to customers.
This comes in response to an industry wide need to move to more resilient farming methods and demand from Waitrose customers: 40% are worried about the impact that modern farming has on nature and wildlife.
As the only UK supermarket owned farm producing fresh local produce, the Leckford Estate has been farming regeneratively since 2020, and commits to embracing a farming system that produces high quality food that is kinder to the environment.
This achievement forms part of Farming for Nature, an initiative announced in May this year to support biodiversity and environmental sustainability across Waitrose’s agricultural supply chain, ultimately working with British farmers to move to nature-friendly farming.
