McCain Foods, the UK largest manufacturer of prepared potato products, has announced plans to launch a new Farm of the Future in North Yorkshire, home of McCain GB headquarters for more than 50 years, building on previously established Farms of the Future already operating in Canada and South Africa.

Developed in partnership with the University of Leeds, the site becomes the company third commercial-scale research and innovation farm dedicated to testing regenerative agriculture practices and marks another step in scaling future-focused farming methods.

As British farmers face increasing pressure from unpredictable weather, declining soil health and ongoing policy uncertainty, Farm of the Future UK is designed to accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices under real-world conditions. McCain recent Farmdex research shows that while many farmers are concerned about the future of UK agriculture, 77 percent believe sustainable practices are essential, and those already investing report greater confidence and resilience.

The 202-hectare site builds on McCain established Farm of the Future locations in Canada and South Africa, strengthening the company global regenerative farming network and supporting knowledge sharing across regions.
 

Advanced regenerative practices and research

The new farm will adopt practices including controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover and biodiversity enhancement. It will also pilot a circular nutrient system developed with the University of Leeds National Pig Centre, using pig manure to enrich soils, reduce waste and support mixed farming systems that aim to improve soil health while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

McCain and the University of Leeds will collaborate on scientific validation and teaching programmes, with independent measurement of soil health, biodiversity and emissions. Additional trials will include autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels for farm equipment. Results will be published annually, similar to the Canadian and South African Farms of the Future, ensuring transparency and wider industry learning.

Potato production at the site is scheduled to begin in 2026, supported by close proximity to McCain manufacturing operations and the wider UK agri-technology ecosystem to speed up innovation cycles.
 

Company commitments and farmer support 

The announcement aligns with the release of McCain 2025 Global Sustainability Report, which outlines progress toward sustainability targets, including the goal of establishing three Farms of the Future by 2025.

Max Koeune, President and CEO of McCain Foods:

"Farm of the Future UK marks an important step in how we are scaling regenerative agriculture across our global Farms of the Future effort. Each site helps us test real solutions with farmers, understand what works, and share that knowledge across our network. This is how we strengthen the resilience of our farms, support our partners, and build a more sustainable food system for the long term."

James Young, Vice President of Agriculture of McCain GB and Ireland:

"Farming is at the heart of Britain food system, and farmers face growing challenges that demand new solutions. We are proud to launch our third Farm of the Future here in the UK, combining global knowledge with local action and research partnership with the University of Leeds. This farm will show that regenerative farming works in practice and aims to provide a blueprint for others."

Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation at University of Leeds:

"Our partnership with McCain at their Farm of the Future in the UK demonstrates our shared ambition to promote farming practices that minimise environmental impact. Establishing this long-term agreement will enable us to further develop research expertise in soil health and land productivity that can benefit farming approaches worldwide."

In Great Britain, 86 percent of McCain potato acreage is already engaged or higher within the company Regenerative Agriculture Framework. Since 2017, McCain GB has also achieved a 25 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 19 percent reduction in water intensity, demonstrating measurable progress toward a more resilient and sustainable food system.

Source - https://www.potatopro.com