UK | The agroforestry initiative aims to support Sainsbury’s farmers and growers in enabling new farming practices.
Sainsbury’s has announced the launch of a new agroforestry initiative in collaboration with the Woodland Trust, marking the two organisations' 20th anniversary of partnership.
Agroforestry is the integration of trees, hedges, and shrubs into farming systems. It provides shade and shelter for animals and crops, improves biodiversity and soil structure while reducing soil erosion, and captures ammonia from the atmosphere.
The Woodland Trust will offer in-person support to farmers and growers who supply Sainsbury’s to create planting plans that fit their farming systems.
With only an estimated 3.3 percent of the UK’s farmed area currently practising agroforestry, less than half the European average, the project has aimed to boost agroforestry adoption and help farmers integrate trees effectively while maintaining other essential land services.
The Woodland Trust's resources will complement Sainsbury’s collaboration with Land App and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to allow farmers to map their land. This will help identify the best land areas for food production and habitat creation, ensuring that farmers can access all the tools they need to make the right decisions for their businesses and the environment.
Starting in the North-West and South-West of England, Sainsbury’s suppliers involved in the initiative will get direct access to tailored advice on how best to integrate trees on their land to build resilient practices while simultaneously helping to protect soils, rivers, and climate.
Since 2004, Sainsbury's has supported the Trust through its free-range Woodland eggs by contributing 1p for every dozen eggs sold.
The Woodland Trust experts provide Sainsbury’s suppliers with essential tree species and design advice. They ensure that trees cover at least 20 percent of the hens’ habitat, allowing them to roam more freely.
Other products in the retailer's Woodland range that raise funds for the Trust include free-range chicken and turkey, Best of British apples, bags for life and greeting cards.
Since the start of the partnership, Sainsbury’s has raised over £14 million for the Woodland Trust and has been funding tree packs for schools and communities to plant in their local areas since 2009.
As a result of this flagship scheme, over 15 million saplings have been planted, creating shade and green spaces for local communities where they are needed most.
In July 2023, Sainsbury’s hit a milestone of five million trees planted through the partnership, helping to protect over 2000 acres of woodland across the UK. It has committed to planting an additional 1.5 million trees by 2025.
The Woodland Trust has been supporting Sainsbury’s farmers in planting trees on their land since the beginning of the partnership in 2004. In 2020, Sainsbury’s became the lead sponsor of the Woodland Trust’s ‘Trees for your Farm’ scheme.
More recently, Sainsbury’s donated £200,000 to the Woodland Trust to restore rare ancient woodland in Northern Ireland’s Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“Over the past two decades, we’ve worked closely to support the Woodland Trust, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved since we started working together 20 years ago,” said Ruth Cranston, Director of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Sainsbury’s.
“This latest partnership initiative aims to provide farmers with expertise to make the most of the tree planting opportunities available. It forms part of a wider partnership and collaboration programme with our suppliers as we seek to lead in building a resilient UK food system.”
Sainsbury’s shoppers can also support the Woodland Trust by donating Nectar points.
