McCain Foods is set to launch its new Farm of the Future UK in North Yorkshire – home to its GB headquarters for more than 50 years – marking the company’s third commercial‑scale regenerative agriculture research site after Canada and South Africa.
Developed in partnership with the University of Leeds, the 202‑hectare site is designed to test, validate and scale regenerative practices under real‑world farm conditions.
The initiative lands at a time when British farmers face mounting pressure from volatile weather, shrinking margins, deteriorating soil health and policy uncertainty.
McCain’s recent Farmdex research found that while UK growers are increasingly anxious about the future of farming, 77% say sustainable practices are essential, with early adopters reporting greater confidence and resilience in their operations.
Global onboarding falls – but engagement rises
McCain has committed to reaching 100% regenerative agriculture adoption across its global potato acreage by 2030.
But the company’s newly released 2025 Global Sustainability Report shows that the share of acreage “onboarded” to its Regenerative Agriculture Framework has slipped to 69%, down from 71% the previous year. A McCain spokesperson told AgTechNavigator the decline is due to both rising global acreage and “the use of soil‑applied pesticides in North America with an Environment Impact Quotient (EIQ) above our Framework’s Onboarding threshold.”
Despite this drop, the number of farms classed as “engaged” – a more advanced tier of adoption – has risen from 24% to 44%, putting the company on track toward its 50% engagement target by 2030.
A commercial blueprint for global regenerative adoption
According to McCain, the new UK site will be its most advanced Farm of the Future yet, providing a scientifically verified, commercial‑scale blueprint to accelerate adoption among the company’s 4,400 growers worldwide.
The site will trial a suite of regenerative practices including:
- Controlled traffic farming
- Year‑round soil cover
- Reduced tillage
- Diversified crop rotations
- A circular nutrient system using pig manure, developed with the University of Leeds
- Autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels
These interventions are designed to address grower‑identified barriers: yield risk, soil compaction, fuel and fertiliser costs, and dependency on synthetic inputs.
All outcomes – including soil health, biodiversity, water efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions – will be independently validated by the University of Leeds.
Fast‑tracking field learnings into global practice
Potato production at the site begins in 2026. Findings will be published annually and integrated immediately into McCain’s grower guidance and regional roadmaps to 2030. Practices that demonstrate consistent agronomic and economic benefits will typically be:
- Adapted for regional conditions
- Rolled out as recommended practices within 24-36 months
- Supported by McCain’s existing levers, including:
- Multi‑year regenerative contracts
- Preferential financing
- EIQ‑aligned crop protection guidance
- Stress‑tolerant potato varieties
- More than 16,000 hours of annual regenerative training delivered globally
With 86% of McCain’s UK acreage already at “engaged” or higher, the new hub builds on strong local momentum and plugs into McCain’s network of over 30 global innovation farms.
Core agronomic goals for the next 3-5 years
McCain says the UK Farm of the Future will focus on measurable improvements in:
- soil organic matter through continuous cover crops and a circular manure‑based nutrient system
- Carbon sequestration through reduced tillage and controlled traffic
- Biodiversity, driven by expanded, diverse rotations
- Input efficiency, reducing synthetic fertiliser and pesticide reliance through precision nutrition
These metrics will feed directly into McCain’s annual sustainability reporting cycle.
Leadership perspectives: scaling regenerative change
Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCain Foods, said the launch marks “an important step in how we are scaling regenerative agriculture across our global Farms of the Future… strengthening the resilience of our farms and supporting our partners to build a more sustainable food system for the long term.”
James Young, vice president of agriculture at McCain GB&I, added: “Farm of the Future UK will show that regenerative farming works in practice and aims to provide a blueprint for others, helping secure the future of farming for generations to come.”
