Tesco CEO Ken Murphy urges UK political parties to honour net zero commitments, fostering business investment.
- Murphy highlights Tesco’s expansion of low-carbon fertiliser trials as a step towards greener agriculture.
- Political stability is deemed essential by Murphy for substantial industry investments in sustainable practices.
- Tesco’s trial showed promising reduction in emissions, aligning with national and global environmental goals.
- Green innovation in food systems is pivotal for economic and environmental resilience, according to Murphy.
In a compelling appeal at the Reuters Impact event, Tesco CEO Ken Murphy called for UK political parties to uphold their net zero commitments, offering businesses the certainty they need to invest confidently in sustainable technologies. This plea coincides with Tesco’s announcement of a major expansion in its agricultural initiatives, specifically the largest commercial field trial of low-carbon fertilisers in the UK.
Murphy articulated the transformative potential of green innovation within the food industry, not only in cutting costs and carbon emissions but also in safeguarding food security and boosting green growth. “As we work to protect customers and suppliers from rising costs today, we must also do all we can to safeguard the shopping basket from shocks tomorrow,” Murphy remarked, underscoring the necessity for a sustainable and productive food system.
Despite these advancements, Murphy pointed out that investment levels in the UK fall short of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. He advocated for collaborative efforts between the government and industry to facilitate large-scale innovations. “The food industry is willing to invest, but needs more stability and confidence when it comes to future policy,” he added, emphasising the critical need for a unified political commitment to net zero objectives.
Tesco’s initiative involves collaborating with suppliers to increase the acreage cultivated with low-carbon fertilisers tenfold by the 2024 growing season. The initial trials, utilising eight different low-carbon fertilisers—six of which are UK-manufactured from materials such as food waste and chicken litter—demonstrated effectiveness comparable to conventional fertilisers while reducing emissions by up to 50%.
The pilot year saw 1,400 hectares producing 70,000 tonnes of vegetables such as lettuce and potatoes for Tesco stores. Encouraging results have led to plans to augment the trial to 13,000 hectares in the coming year, potentially expanding the initiative’s reach within Tesco’s Sustainable Farming Groups. This initiative highlights a pragmatic approach towards achieving significant emissions reductions while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Murphy’s appeal underscores the urgent need for political stability and collaboration to achieve net zero goals, fostering economic and environmental sustainability.
