McCain Foods has announced plans to launch a new Farm of the Future in North Yorkshire, home of McCain’s GB headquarters for over 50 years.
In partnership with the University of Leeds, this is McCain’s first UK commercial-scale research and innovation site to trial regenerative agriculture practices, joining farms in Canada and South Africa.
Farm of the Future UK is designed to help British farmers navigate increasing pressure from unpredictable weather, declining soil health and ongoing policy uncertainty, accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices in real-world farming conditions. McCain’s recent Farmdex research underscores the need for action: while many British farmers are concerned about the future of UK farming, 77% agree that sustainable practices are essential.
The 202-hectare will be the most advanced Farm of the Future to date, adopting practices such as controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover, and biodiversity building. It will also be the first Farm of the Future location to pilot a circular nutrient system, developed in partnership with the University of Leeds National Pig Centre, using pig manure to enrich soils, reduce waste, and demonstrate how mixed farming systems aim to improve soil health and biodiversity while helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Potato production will begin in 2026 and McCain will share all insights with its network of 4,400 farmers.
Max Koeune, President and CEO at McCain Foods, said: “McCain Farm of the Future UK marks an important step in how we are scaling regenerative agriculture across our global Farms of the Future. Each site helps us test real solutions with farmers, understand what works, and share that knowledge across our network. This is how we strengthen the resilience of our farms, support our partners, and build a more sustainable food system for the long term.”
