Aldi beef scheme offers premiums for sustainable farming

Discount retailer Aldi is launching a British beef scheme with supplier ABP to reward farmers for environmental improvements, offering premium payments, technical advice and peer learning to strengthen supply chain resilience.

The Grounded in Goodness initiative will involve about 1,000 beef farmers across the UK, with recruitment beginning in October and the first farms expected to supply ABP through the scheme by spring 2027.

Participating farmers will receive tiered payments for production and delivering environmental benefits, alongside access to specialist agronomic advice and peer learning networks.

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Farmers will be able to choose from a range of defined on-farm actions covering soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare. These have been selected and verified by a farm consultancy to ensure they are practical and achievable.

The flexible approach is designed to allow farmers to select measures suited to their farming systems and increase their commitments over time.

A small group of “Horizon Farmers”, running efficient beef enterprises with strong environmental commitments, will also work with Aldi and ABP to trial new approaches and share lessons with the wider network.

Billy Cuthbertson is an ABP farmer based in Fife © ABP

Supporting investment

Julie Ashfield, Aldi UK chief commercial officer, said the scheme was designed to help farmers invest in their businesses amid rising input costs, climate pressures and the transition away from direct subsidies.

“Grounded in Goodness is designed to provide practical support and financial certainty that helps farmers invest in their businesses for the long term,” she said.

She added that the initiative had been developed with ABP and farmers to recognise existing good practice while providing a framework for those wishing to go further.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw welcomed the scheme, saying retailers had an important role in supporting British farmers and giving consumers confidence in food quality.

“By recognising and rewarding the environmentally beneficial actions that are already being delivered on our farms, this scheme provides a strong incentive for further sustainable farming practices, while supporting profitable beef production,” he said.

Grounded in Goodness forms part of Aldi’s wider sustainability strategy, which aims to invest in more sustainable supply chains across key commodities.

Aldi said it was one of the leading buyers of British beef and maintained a policy of sourcing 100% of its core fresh beef, pork, poultry, milk and eggs from British farms.

Farmers interested in participating can find further information at groundedingoodness.co.uk.