A partnership between farmer, processor and retailer
Asda has supported British dairy farmers in partnership with Arla Foods – the farmer owned cooperative - for over 20 years, with the original Asda Dairy Group established in 2013 and was the first partnership of its kind in the dairy industry.
Our goal is to support British dairy farmers together for peer-to-peer learning as well as information from industry experts on key topics such as feed efficiency, animal behaviour and soil health. These form part of Arla’s FarmAhead™ Customer Partnership which we invest into, to help support dairy farmers take tangible action towards more sustainable dairy production practices.
The incentive model is a point based system that rewards past and future climate and environmental sustainability activities. The model focuses on key drivers of emissions reduction including feed efficiency, fertiliser use, land use, protein efficiency and animal robustness, as well as other key outcomes including sustainable feed, manure handling, renewable energy, knowledge building and biodiversity and carbon farming. The biodiversity and carbon farming section incentivises actions focused on regenerative farming including grassland management, continuous plant cover, diverse leys, soil sampling and soil health monitoring. The activities in the model are based on Arla’s annual FarmAhead™ checks and consultancy from external experts where progress is independently verified.
We’re proud to help drive positive change across our dairy supply chain.
Meet the Farmer
Name: Rob from Yorkshire
A second-generation dairy farmer, Rob runs a thriving Holstein herd alongside his wife and three children. A strong advocate for British agriculture, he credits the aligned Asda–Arla partnership for sharpening his focus on continuous improvement. “Being part of the aligned Asda–Arla group has been instrumental in learning best practice and driving improvements to future proof the resilience of my farm,” said Rob . Rob also hosts on-farm events, helping the public reconnect with where their food comes from.
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Name: Harry from Herefordshire
Harry is a fifth-generation dairy farmer who runs a mixed enterprise in partnership with his parents and grandparents, combining a robotic milking system with chickens, arable, fruit, and beef. Their diversified system places long-standing focus on healthy soils Harry sees soil health as pivotal to the transition toward more sustainable dairy farming, and he’s keen to champion that shift. “Farmers have always been pioneers, and many are already finding what works best for them. Support from Asda is crucial in helping us on our journey to a more sustainable business,” says Harry.
Name: Andrew from Cornwall
Andrew runs a progressive, pasture-based system with Jersey cross cows across 1,000 acres, alongside beef, potatoes and cabbages. His diversified business includes beef, and he lets land for potatoes and cabbages. He champions incorporating herbal lays into his grazing platform to improve both soil and animal health. “Being a member of the aligned Asda group has created a network of farmers far and wide sharing experiences and knowledge to challenge each other to become more resilient businesses for the future,” says Andrew.
Collaborating on projects that drive change
Project name: Nutriwise
Project aim: Optimising fertiliser use to improve efficiency and reduce emissions
Over the next two and a half years, working closely with fifteen Arla farmers aligned to our Asda farmer group, farmers will look at methods to optimise the use of fertiliser to build robust soils while maintaining high milk production and reducing emissions.
The project will:
· Identify and demonstrate actions that optimise fertiliser use on farms
· Understand the implementation of these actions, including feasibility, cost, and carbon footprint
· Share learnings and data
· Produce a catalogue of specific actions and solutions for Arla farmers to optimise fertiliser use