Tesco urges low-carbon fertilizers to move beyond farm trials

Tesco called on the food industry to help scale low-carbon fertilizers from trials into mainstream use, arguing that British growers need more protection from price shocks, the retailer said at London Tech Week on June 9.

UK chief executive Ashwin Prasad said low-carbon fertilizers could cut emissions, strengthen food security, and offer a more stable, domestically produced alternative to volatile global supply. Too often, he said, promising technologies struggle to move from trial to everyday use on farms.

Trials at Tesco’s low-carbon concept farm in Lincolnshire showed yields comparable to those from conventional farms while emitting lower levels of carbon, the company said. Its main potato supplier, Branston, recorded a 50% reduction in emissions through low-carbon growing techniques, including low-carbon fertilizer.

The appeal comes as fertilizer costs climb. AHDB figures show prices across a range of products have risen between 13% and 36% since the start of the Iran war, squeezing UK farmers already managing tight margins.

Prasad said scaling the products will require greater availability, clearer pricing, and confidence that farmers can plan their use over the long term. Tesco also relaunched its Agri-Tech Challenge to find startups offering practical sustainability and resilience tools. Whether suppliers can deliver volume at competitive prices remains an open question.

Source: FarmingUK