Speaking at BCBC22 in January - Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries, Marks & Spencer

“Farmers have a real opportunity to embrace change to the benefit of their business and to the UK consumer,” said Marks and Spencer’s Steve McLean.

There were many challenges facing the food industry, with the environment perhaps being the most pressing. Independent assessments indicated that more than 72% of the carbon dioxide in Marks & Spencer’s footprint rests within the agricultural sector, he explained.

“We have a real need to work collaboratively with our supply base and the select farms that we rely on, to look at ways that we can help address the carbon challenges.” Other challenges, namely Covid-19, Brexit and inflationary pressure were all having an ongoing impact on how the company operates as well.

“Consumers and investors are looking at companies like M&S to address the challenges facing society. But it’s important that we recognise the opportunities that come with change.

“The underlying trend towards vegan eating and the perceptions around environmental benefits are a risk to the industry, but they are not new,” he said. “As long as we are fact-based, as long as we can demonstrate the place that those industries fit in for human good there is great opportunity. But we do need to change and we do need to think differently.  

Customers want high quality fresh products that offer superior value and great taste, he said. “Increasingly however, they want to ensure that we're offering food that is healthy, sourced from livestock reared in high animal welfare conditions and coming from farms that are environmentally friendly.

“Personally, I think that is a real opportunity for UK farmers. We have some of the best animal welfare conditions in the world and we can farm in environmentally friendly ways that should ensure that the UK industry is at the forefront of sourcing decisions.”

He also called for further transparency and collaboration across the supply chain. There are ‘huge opportunities’ ahead, he said. “We need to ensure that we’ve all adapted our mindset and approach to be able to achieve those opportunities.”