McCain Foods will launch a new UK “Farm of the Future” in North Yorkshire in 2026, expanding its commercial-scale testing network for regenerative agriculture and linking the site to a long-term research partnership with the University of Leeds.

The initiative was announced on February 3, 2026, alongside the company’s 2025 Global Sustainability Report, which McCain says marks the delivery of a pledge made in 2021 to establish three Farms of the Future by 2025.

McCain described the North Yorkshire site as a 202-hectare working farm intended to trial regenerative practices under “real-world farming conditions” as growers face “increasing pressure from unpredictable weather, declining soil health and ongoing policy uncertainty”. The company said the farm will sit close to its Great Britain headquarters, which it has operated in the region for more than 50 years.

The UK farm will join existing Farms of the Future in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, and Lichtenburg, South Africa. McCain said learnings will be shared across its “global network of 4,400 farmers” and that results from the UK site will be published annually in dedicated reports, following the model used for its other locations.

The company said the UK site will be its “most advanced Farm of the Future to date”, featuring practices including controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cover and biodiversity-building measures. It will also be the first of McCain’s Farms of the Future to pilot a circular nutrient system developed with the University of Leeds’ National Pig Centre, using pig manure to enrich soils and reduce waste. McCain said the approach is intended to demonstrate how mixed farming systems can improve soil health and biodiversity while helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

McCain said it will work with the University of Leeds on a scientific and teaching partnership, including “independent data validation across key metrics including soil health, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions”. The company added that other focus areas at the site will include autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels for farm equipment. Potato production at the farm is set to begin in 2026.

Max Koeune, President and CEO at McCain Foods, framed the site as part of a broader effort to scale regenerative agriculture across the group’s supply chain. “McCain Farm of the Future UK marks an important step in how we are scaling regenerative agriculture across our global Farms of the Future,” he said. “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.”

James Young, Vice President of Agriculture at McCain GB&I, positioned the project as a response to mounting pressures on UK growers and as a practical demonstration site. “Farming is at the heart of Britain’s food system, and farmers face growing challenges that demand new solutions,” he said. “We’re proud to launch our third and final Farm of the Future here in the UK, combining global knowledge with local action and a research partnership with the University of Leeds. This farm will show that regenerative farming works in practice and aims to provide a blueprint for others, helping secure the future of farming for generations to come.”

From the University of Leeds, Professor Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, said the partnership is structured as a long-term agreement aimed at building research capacity. “The University of Leeds is committed to helping address global challenges including food security and the climate crisis,” he said. “Our partnership with McCain at their Farm of the Future in the UK is a clear example of our joint ambition to promote farming practices which minimise environmental impact. Establishing this 20-year agreement will enable us to further develop research expertise in soil health and land productivity that can benefit farming approaches worldwide.”

The farm launch is also presented as a central element of McCain’s wider sustainability programme, as outlined in its 2025 Global Sustainability Report. In the report, the company said it is progressing towards implementing regenerative agriculture “across all acreage used to grow potatoes for McCain by 2030”, and reported that it now has “nearly 70% of our global acreage Onboarded to McCain’s Regenerative Agriculture Framework”. The report also said 44% of global acreage is “Engaged” or higher under the framework and highlighted the establishment of 30 Innovation Farms globally.

In operational terms, McCain’s report cited an “absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions” reduction of 28% since 2017 and said 60% of its total electrical energy consumption is sourced from renewable electricity. It also stated that 98% of packaging is designed to be recyclable.

Charlie Angelakos, Vice President, External Affairs and Sustainability at McCain Foods, said the company has updated its sustainability targets to 2030 and highlighted a broader focus on climate, nature and human rights. “We are pleased with our progress, with nearly 70% of our global acreage Onboarded to McCain’s Regenerative Agriculture Framework, reducing our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 28% since 2017 and supporting over 18,000 vulnerable farmers and families through community development programmes since 2018,” he said. “As we look to 2030 and beyond, we recognize the years ahead will bring challenges and the journey will not be easy. We must build on our lessons learned as well as deep partnership and collaboration with our partners across the value chain to ensure we deliver sustainable progress and create a resilient business.”

McCain’s sustainability report also outlined food and quality-related metrics, including GFSI-recognized certification coverage across its own facilities and tier-one ingredient suppliers, portfolio compliance with its Global Nutrition Policy, and progress in sodium reduction for branded appetizer products. It also reported 34.4 million meals donated to food banks and NGOs in 2025, alongside employee volunteering totals and community support figures for vulnerable farmers and families.