McCain Foods has unveiled a major agricultural innovation project in the UK with the launch of its UK “Farm of the Future”, a 202-hectare commercial research farm in North Yorkshire set to begin operations in 2026. The initiative is part of McCain’s global Farms of the Future programme, which aims to accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices that improve resilience, environmental performance and long-term supply chain stability for growers.
Developed in partnership with the University of Leeds, the farm will trial a range of regenerative techniques in real-world conditions, including controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover, enhanced biodiversity measures and other methods designed to improve soil health and productivity. A key innovation at the site will be a circular nutrient system developed with the University’s National Pig Centre, which uses pig manure to enrich soils, reduce agricultural waste and explore mixed farming systems that can boost fertility while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The project also includes trials of autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels for farm equipment, testing both emerging technologies and practical approaches that could be scaled up across commercial operations. All results will be published annually, ensuring that McCain’s global network of around 4,400 farmers can access robust, science-backed data to guide their own transitions towards more sustainable systems.
The UK farm represents McCain’s third such site, following earlier Farms of the Future in Canada and South Africa, completing its commitment to establish three research hubs by 2025. The company has already reported significant progress in Great Britain, including a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 19% reduction in water intensity since 2017, and with 86% of its UK potato acreage now classified as “Engaged” within its Regenerative Agriculture Framework.
In practical terms, the UK Farm of the Future serves as a blueprint for resilient agriculture, offering growers evidence-based methods that can help address climate challenges, improve soil and biodiversity outcomes, and strengthen the long-term viability of British farming.
