McCain Unveils UK ‘Farm of the Future’ To Drive Regenerative Agriculture Innovation

McCain Foods has announced plans to launch its first UK Farm of the Future, a pioneering regenerative agriculture research and innovation site in North Yorkshire, marking a major vote of confidence in the future of British farming.

The 202-hectare working farm, due to begin potato production in 2026, will be based close to McCain GB’s headquarters – which has been in the county for more than half a century.

Developed in partnership with the University of Leeds, the project is designed to help growers address real-world challenges such as unpredictable weather, declining soil health and ongoing policy uncertainty by trialling and measuring regenerative practices under commercial conditions.

According to McCain, this will be the most advanced of its global Farms of the Future to date, adopting techniques including controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover and biodiversity-building measures. A standout feature will be a circular nutrient system – developed with the University of Leeds National Pig Centre – which uses pig manure to enrich soils, reduce waste and explore how mixed farming systems can improve soil health and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The farm will also explore frontier areas of innovation such as autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels for farm equipment, with all findings published annually to support transparency and knowledge sharing across McCain’s global network of around 4,400 growers.

McCain’s president and CEO, Max Koeune, described the UK Farm of the Future as “an important step” in scaling regenerative agriculture globally – helping the business test practical solutions, share learnings and strengthen resilience across its supply chain.

James Young, McCain GB&I’s vice president of agriculture, added that the initiative will provide a blueprint for others, showing how regenerative practices can work in practice and support farming’s long-term sustainability.

The launch accompanies McCain’s 2025 Global Sustainability Report, which highlights progress towards its sustainability commitments – including delivering three Farms of the Future worldwide, with the UK site completing that global pledge.