Tesco And WWF Launch Scheme To Tackle Climate Change

UK retailer Tesco and the WWF have launched an innovative trial project that offers UK dairy farmers attractive subsidies for implementing climate-friendly agricultural practices in cultivating feed for their livestock.

The scheme aims to help reduce the environmental impact of the average shopping basket.

The project involves 15 farmers in Tesco’s Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG), who have received an 80% seed subsidy to plant herbal leys – a soil-enriching grass mix of plants, legumes and herbs used as feed for dairy cows.

The seed mix offers several benefits over conventional grass fields, including better on-farm biodiversity, reduction in carbon footprint, improvement in soil health and water quality and better animal health.

Even though cows are responsible for 2% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, finding a way to reduce emissions associated with dairy farming could lessen its environmental impact.

Since 2016, Tesco dairy farmers have reduced their carbon emissions by 6.5%.

ESM