Supermarket chain Lidl GB has announced a £1.5bn ($1.94bn) investment in British beef production over the next five years.
This move is coupled with a sustainability programme designed to revolutionise the industry.
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The programme focuses on partnering with British beef suppliers and rewarding farmers who adopt regenerative farming practices that minimise environmental impact.
Lidl will establish a dedicated ‘Sustainable Beef Group’ to support this transition.
Members will be financially incentivised to achieve carbon footprint reductions alongside implementing techniques that improve grazing management, biodiversity, and soil and water quality – all tailored to individual farms.
Additionally, the programme will collaborate with farmers to enhance herd performance, ultimately boosting farm profitability.
Lidl GB is taking a pioneering approach to sustainability within the domestic beef industry.
Hundreds of farms across the UK have already undergone carbon footprint assessments, conducted in partnership with Promar, an independent agricultural and sustainability consultancy.
This data will be used to provide each farm with personalised recommendations for lowering emissions and ensuring long-term business sustainability.
Notably, Lidl and Dunbia, a major beef supplier, have set an ambitious target to collectively reduce scope 3 emissions intensity by 28% per finished product tonne by 2030.
This initiative builds upon the success of Lidl’s established Welsh and Grass Fed beef producer groups, both of which reward farmers for joining.
The Grass Fed range, for example, mandates that cattle spend at least 180 days per year grazing outdoors and consume a diet consisting of at least 70% grass.
Lidl GB’s sustainability efforts extend beyond beef production.
In April this year, Lidl invested £500m in the British pork industry to address recent challenges and bolster high-quality domestic pork production.
Furthermore, the company partnered with Pembrokeshire Creamery to become the first supermarket to sell milk produced and bottled entirely within Wales.
Lidl GB’s investment and commitment to sustainable practices position it as a frontrunner in the British retail industry, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future for beef production.
