UK grocer Waitrose has announced new partnerships with Soil Association Exchange and Regenified, bringing these organisations into its ‘Farming for Nature’ programme.
The aim of the initiative is for the supermarket chain to accelerate its support for British farmers to produce food in ways that restore and protect the environment.
Farming for Nature was established to help boost financial resilience of farms in the long-term, combat biodiversity loss, and tackle the effects of climate change.
In January, Waitrose announced a tie-up with digital mapping tool, Land App, to support farmers in the adoption of nature-friendly practices in the UK. In June 2025, the retailer announced recipients of a new £500,000 fund aimed at helping British farmers transition to net zero.
Waitrose wants all its UK farms to be using regenerative practices by 2030, and the new partnerships are expected to help the company move towards that goal.
Andrew Hoad, director of the retailer’s own Leckford Estate farming site and the Farming for Nature lead at Waitrose, said: “Their expertise will be vital in developing our approach, providing monitoring, measuring impact and demonstrating progress.
“Our commitment to regenerative farming reflects our belief that producing high-quality food and caring for the environment go hand in hand. We are leading the way in backing British farmers, protecting nature, meeting climate goals, and building a sustainable and resilient food system from the ground up.”
Soil Association Exchange is a farm-measurement tool backed by the Soil Association and will be implemented into a four-year programme to support the early adopting farms in Waitrose’s supply chain. By tracking metrics on soil health, biodiversity, water, carbon, animal welfare, and social impact, the tech can build evidence of the impact of changing farming practices.
Soil Association Exchange will work closely with existing partners such as Land App, LEAF, and the University of Reading. And in a landmark move with Regenified – a regenerative agriculture verification platform – Waitrose will offer 100 farms free access to the framework to achieve a Regenified certification.
The retailer said this will help farmers across livestock, dairy, fresh produce and horticulture, to measure and track improvements over time in key areas such as soil health, water management, and biodiversity.
Joseph Gridley, CEO of Soil Association Exchange, remarked: “Farmers want to do the right thing for nature and their businesses, but they need clear evidence, trusted advice, and fair reward.
“Through this partnership, Waitrose is helping farmers turn robust data into practical changes on the ground, backed by the advice and support they need. It’s a powerful step towards a food system that is both climate-resilient and profitable for farmers.”
Commenting on the programme, Salar Shemirani, co-founder & CEO of Regenified, noted: “Their commitment to giving farmers the tools, data, and independent verification they need to build resilient, nature-friendly businesses is a testament to the foresight of Waitrose and its suppliers, demonstrating their commitment to change the food system for the better.”
Participating in the Regenified certification is voluntary. Waitrose’s Leckford Estate has been using regenerative practices since 2020 and its orchard and vineyards became the first in the UK to achieve Regenified certification.
[image credit: Waitrose/John Lewis Partnership]
