Food production systems require a diverse range of plants, animals, bacteria and fungi, both for the direct supply of food and to sustain the underlying ecosystem processes that make agriculture possible – from water supply to soil fertility enhancement, pollination and natural pest control.
We have a responsibility to ensure our supply chains are sustainable into the future and so we’re working with suppliers, farmers and growers to protect and restore land so they remain productive for generations to come. This means taking action to prevent deforestation and we’re constantly evolving and strengthening the way we source our own-brand products, and collaborating with branded suppliers on sustainable sourcing.
Sustainable Farming
Soil can be a farmer’s biggest asset or liability depending on how it is managed. It produces our food and performs essential eco system services.
Well-maintained soils provide good structure, water retention and nutrition to crops.
We also promote more responsible farming practices in our supply chain by encouraging farmers to adopt practices that lower any unintended impacts on other insects, animals and plants.
Improving soils and biodiversity in the 2022 potato crop - Case study
CJ Fountain & Son, based near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire have been supplying high quality potatoes since 1968 to Asda’s International Procurement Limited (IPL) site. The farm is now third generation owned with James Fountain taking the reins from his father David.
In recent years Asda and IPL have encouraged farmers to keep soil covered and improve biodiversity and soil structure through the use of our bespoke seed mixture offer (Operation Pollinator). The seeds create a wildlife habitat during the late Spring and Summer and the wildlife corridors can also be used as buffer strips to watercourses.
For the 2022 potato crop, James had an area of the farm earmarked for potato cropping that had previously been unproductive and prone to flooding. After sharing cropping plans and enquiring about seed mixtures to fill 7 acres¹ of land, James opted to sow a ‘bees n seeds’ mixture (containing mustard, buckwheat, kale rape, gold of pleasure, phacelia and fodder radish) to cover soil, improve the soil structure and the farm biodiversity. This has provided valuable late season pollen and nectar for insects, before providing an essential food source for many farmland birds.
Despite the prolonged heat during the Summer of 2022 the biodiversity area established very well and provided an excellent habitat for bees, butterflies and ladybirds. A herd of deer and a family of hares also took a liking to the abundance of cover and shade.
¹Seven acres is roughly the equivalent size of four football fields.
