Merseyside farmer endorses Alpro’s 100% British oats drive
© GNP Merseyside arable farmer and social media influencer Olly Harrison has publicly endorsed Alpro’s commitment to sourcing 100% of the oats for its oat drink from British farms.
Mr Harrison, known for his Instagram presence as @agricontract_ollyblogs, travelled to Suffolk to engage with foodie influencers on oat growing and to film a short video discussing the benefits of sourcing local oats for Alpro’s oat drink.
He shared this video with his followers, emphasising the importance of supporting local agriculture.
See also: Alpro to source vegan drinks from 100% British oats
In his Instagram post, Mr Harrison states:
“As a farmer, I know how important it is to support local UK farms. So when I was asked to work with Alpro to talk about the challenges of growing oats sustainably – and to help explain this to non-farmers – I wanted to be involved.
“They’re committed to using 100% British oats in their drinks, and I felt it was only right that a farmer should be the one to tell that story.”
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He noted that the oats used in Alpro’s oat drink are grown within 80 miles of the Navara Oat Mill in Kettering, Northamptonshire, where they are processed.
Alpro ambitions
Alpro plans to produce 58m litres of oat drink a year at its Kettering facility, accounting for a quarter of the site’s total plant-based drink production capacity.
This initiative is part of a multi-million-pound investment to support local, British farmers and reduce environmental impact.
The company says sourcing oats locally reduces food miles and contributes to a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with growing consumer demand for sustainable and locally-produced plant-based products.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, Mr Harrison said: “In a year when we’ve lost key markets for wheat with the bioethanol US trade deal and wheat future price below cost of production, it’s nice that a French-owned company is choosing to buy 100% British oats. In my view, it’s a good news story for UK farming.”
He also explained that oats are well-suited to the UK climate and can serve as a valuable crop for farmers.
Dairy alternative
While acknowledging that some in the dairy industry might view oat drinks as competition, Mr Harrison drew parallels to other sectors within agriculture.
“A sheep farmer doesn’t moan about a beef farmer who is promoting roast beef and Yorkshire puddings on a Sunday, it’s always important to have UK-grown choice for consumers or we will be filled by imports not to our standard.”
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With oat drinks now being the UK’s most popular plant-based drink, Mr Harrison believes this initiative not only supports British farmers but also contributes to a more sustainable food system.
He also highlighted that oat drinks and goats milk can be a valuable alternative for people who are lactose intolerant, most of whom would probably like to consume cow’s milk in tea, coffee and on their breakfast cereal but can’t.