IN an effort to support its 250-strong network of UK potato growers who have faced increased financial pressures over the past year, frozen potato product manufacturer McCain has launched a new ongoing support package.
The package equates to an additional £30 million investment over the next three years.
A major purchaser of the UK potato crop, McCain says it is keen to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of British potato growing, which it says is vital to the country’s food security.
It is already working with growers to help them transition to regenerative practices and ensure fair prices for their potatoes.
A survey of arable farming decision makers commissioned by McCain revealed that rising energy (35%) and fertiliser costs (32%), as well as environmental threats (36%), are having the biggest pressure on farmers’ finances, with half of growers saying this had prompted them to reconsider their future in growing.
James Young, Vice President, Agriculture at McCain Foods GB said: “British potato growers are facing a myriad of unprecedented challenges from rising input costs to extreme weather events. At McCain, we pride ourselves on the strong partnerships we have built with our 250 growers and are committed to supporting them. We believe this package bolsters our ongoing collaboration with growers to help ensure the long-term sustainability of British agriculture.”
McCain is also working with growers to navigate extreme weather patterns, such as heavy rainfall, flooding and unseasonably mild temperatures, that are placing additional strain on farmers’ finances. Together with its growers, McCain has committed to implementing regenerative agricultural practices across 100% of its global potato acreage by the end of 2030.
The package has been welcomed by growers.
Sam Daw, a grower for McCain Food GB, said his business’s partnership with McCain had helped provide “clear and positive impact” on direction and investment.
“The new package has rejuvenated confidence in the sector, reshaped our cashflow and allowed for investment and growth planning,” he said, adding: “ The commitment to regenerative agriculture complements our other farming enterprises. Incorporating manures from our livestock, keeping green cover over fields for longer with cover crops and utilising reduced soil movement cultivation equipment across a wider range of crops – the farm’s relationship with McCain is so much more than a potato crop.”
To support its farmers on this transition, McCain is testing regenerative agriculture practices and trialling new technology at its Farms of the Future projects, located in McCain’s hometown of Florenceville, New Brunswick, and in South Africa. This is supported in the UK by three demonstration farms across the country, where growers will be invited to see the results firsthand.
Nigel Adams, a potato grower for McCain, is pictured on his farm. He has also been quoted as saying how invaluable the company’s support has been for his business.
