M&S' Low-Carbon Parsnips a First in Farming Climate Tech

M&S is setting a new precedent in the agriculture industry this November by being the first British retailer to offer parsnips with a reduced carbon footprint.

The vegetables are the product of a cutting-edge trial in autonomous farming technology, showcasing a significant stride toward diminishing environmental impact, enhancing crop quality and increasing yields.

In partnership with supplier Huntapac, M&S is pioneering the use of autonomous farming techniques for parsnips, reinforcing its dedication to curbing Scope 3 emissions within its supply chain.

This initiative squarely fits within the Scope 3 Category 1, encompassing all upstream emissions from the production of goods and services the company secures.

M&S' autonomously farmed parsnips

Embracing state-of-the-art technology, including drones and robots, M&S is reshaping the cultivation of their produce.

This approach is crucial to its aim of reducing carbon emissions and cultivating healthier crops.

Through automation, tasks such as planting, weeding and monitoring are taken over by machines, cutting down the need for bulky machinery and significantly reducing carbon emissions.

M&S and Huntapac have adopted a minimal tillage method as well, which aids in sequestering carbon in the soil. The companies are also utilising a green fertiliser that transforms nitrogen dioxide into nitrogen for plant photosynthesis.

Early findings indicate a 46% reduction in emissions when compared to traditional farming practices.

“Our 40-year relationship with M&S has gone from strength to strength and we couldn’t have done this project without the Plan A Accelerator Fund," says Stephen Shields, Technical & Sustainability Director at Huntapac. 

"Not only are we seeing a reduction of the carbon impact but more parsnips at higher quality, due to us being able to plant the seeds despite bad weather earlier this year.

"This would have a fantastic impact on our business at scale and we’re aiming to deliver multiple fields farmed this way for next season.”

Drones and AI aren’t just for reducing carbon; they’re also enhancing crop quality.

In trials, fields utilising these technologies produced 16% more top-quality parsnips than traditional fields. Amid one of the wettest years recorded, these autonomous technologies have proved their worth by planting seeds when traditional methods were not feasible.

“Innovation is at the heart of M&S Food and our Plan A Accelerator Fund offers us the opportunity to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of our suppliers," comments Andrew Clappen, Technical Director at M&S Food.

"Projects like this help us move towards being a Net Zero business across all our operations and entire supply chain by 2040, whilst focussing on the quality of produce that M&S is famous for.

"Agriculture is one of our biggest contributors to emissions, so it’s important that we find new lower impact farming methods.

"Trialling new ways to support our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero is an important step on the journey and this project has helped deliver more parsnips at M&S quality, a carbon reduction and brings together new technologies which if adopted more widely would create more highly skilled jobs and attract new talent into the sector.” 

Changing farming's future

As M&S edges closer to its net zero target by 2040, this project also addresses key challenges like attracting fresh talent and generating skilled employment opportunities within the sector.

The transition to autonomous farming could revolutionise the industry as much as the tractor once did.

Utilising advanced technologies to undertake labour-intensive tasks allows farmers to concentrate on managing soil health and enhance biodiversity.

Leading sustainable innovation with Plan A

M&S openly commits to sustainability and this trial is a testament to its boundary-pushing efforts towards achieving its net zero ambitions.

The Yorkshire-grown, lower-carbon parsnips, available in select stores come November, illustrate not just an advancement for a single crop but signify the blueprint for the future of sustainable farming.

A blueprint for climate tech in agriculture

The Farming with Nature programme, an extension of M&S's comprehensive sustainability strategy, plays a pivotal role in this trial.

It encompasses various initiatives aimed at enhancing biodiversity, both in and above the soil.

The initiative includes wildflower-bordered fields and the deployment of AgriSound boxes, which analyse pollinator activity through specialised listening technology.

This holistic approach to farming emphasises not only reducing carbon emissions but also bolstering the ecosystems that ensure crop vitality.

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