McCain plans high tech research farm in North Yorkshire

McCain Foods is to launch a ‘Farm of the Future’ in North Yorkshire near its GB headquarters.

In partnership with the University of Leeds, this is McCain’s third commercial-scale research and innovation site to trial regenerative agriculture practices, following farms in Canada and South Africa.

The 202-hectare Farm of the Future UK is designed to help accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices in real-world farming conditions, against the background of British farming challenges such as unpredictable weather, declining soil health and ongoing policy uncertainty.

McCain’s recent Farmdex research showed that 77% of British farmers agree that sustainable practices are essential – and those already investing in them report greater confidence and resilience.

The site will be the most advanced Farm of the Future to date, adopting practices such as controlled traffic farming, year-round soil cove, 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.

McCain will also work with the University of Leeds to develop a scientific and teaching partnership, providing opportunities for independent data validation across key metrics including soil health, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. Additional areas of focus will include autonomous vehicles and alternative fuels for farm equipment.

Insights from the UK farm will feed into McCain’s global network of 4,400 farmers, supporting the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices worldwide.

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.”

James Young, vice president of agriculture at McCain GB&I, added: “Farming is at the heart of Britain’s food system, and farmers face growing challenges that demand new solutions. 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.”

The announcement aligns with the release of McCain Foods’ 2025 Global Sustainability Report, which outlines the company’s progress toward its sustainability commitments – including the delivery of its goal to establish three Farms of the Future by 2025.

The report details McCain’s updated SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) targets which align with the latest climate science, and a reinforcement of focus on nature and human rights.

In Great Britain, McCain has made progress against its global sustainability commitments, which includes momentum in its Regenerative Agriculture Framework—a pathway to progress supporting farmers as they transition toward more regenerative practices. To date, 86% of McCain GB’s potato acreage is at ‘engaged’ or higher within the framework.

Since 2017, McCain GB has also delivered a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 19% reduction in water intensity.