M&S is launching a new program called "Farming for the Future" to help UK agriculture adapt to challenges like climate change, population growth, and resource constraints. The program will establish best practices, benchmark progress, support innovation projects, and share knowledge across the industry to deliver high quality food sustainably and securely into the future.

1. Fresh Inspirations 2012
Carmel McQuaid - @mcquaic

2. Introduction
• About M&S
• The challenges facing UK agriculture
• Our response - Farming for the Future
– What is it?
– What will it deliver?
– How?

3. About us…
•Leading UK retailer (clothing,
homeware & food)
•21 million customers visit/wk.
•Largely own brand
•More than 700 stores
•4% market share in food
•Expanding international business
– 41 territories
•Multi-channel retailer

4. Brand values
• Quality
• Value
• Service
• Innovation
• Trust

5. Food mission
The most
convenient
The best quality
product & Leading innovation
locations
Our mission is to provide the best quality
food at great value, continually
innovating and setting the standards for
UK food retailing First class
service
Great value
The right product
Trusted and safe range

6. A history of innovation…

7. Trust – doing the right thing

8. The challenges facing UK
agriculture…

9. The economic
stability of the
Eurozone is in
doubt…

10. In 40 years there will be 9bn
people to feed…

11. Climate change will put pressure on
food production…

12. Oil supplies will tighten,
increasing prices…

13. Whilst young people
continue to turn
their back on a
career in farming…

14. A huge challenge!

16. What is Farming for the Future?
• A programme to help our supply partners and
the wider farming community adapt to the
challenges ahead

17. What will it deliver?
• Best quality
• Improved technical
efficiency
• Reduced environmental
impact
• High standards of animal
health and welfare

18. What will it deliver?
• Commercial security for
our customers, suppliers
and producers
• Inspiration for the
farming industry
• Engagement with
consumers
• Influence with
Government and NGOs
• Differentiation

19. How?

20. 1. Establish best practice
• In key areas including:
– Animal welfare
– Technical performance
– Environmental performance
– Pesticide usage
– Payment schemes
– Sustainable raw materials

21. 2. Benchmark progress
• Established key performance indicators and
tracking systems:
• M&S TRAK® (livestock)
• M&S Field to Fork (produce and flowers)

22. 3. Support innovation
• M&S ‘pacesetter’ projects
– M&S funding more than 28 projects across the
globe and across all sectors
– Broad range of topics – product innovation,
season extension, environmental benefits,
sustainability of supply chain, road maps
– Outcomes will result in knowledge transfer activity

23. Some innovation examples...
M&S is launching the
Red sprouts Producer Exchange
UK’s first ever ‘reverse’
season British grown
Asparagus
Infra-red imaging Young farmers
for sustainable award
Renewable energy irrigation

24. 4. Share knowledge and drive change
• Embarking on widescale
communication programme
– Engage and inspire farmers
– Share learning
– Drive sustainability into the
heart of supply chain
http://producerexchange.marksandspencer.com
• Indicator Farms

25. Why bother?
• Differentiation
• Highest standards
• Consistent approach
• Provide consumer
confidence
• Protect M&S brand
• Drive improvement

26. Summary
• We face challenging times
• But there are lots of opportunities too
• M&S already leading the industry on pricing
models, welfare and technical standards
• Farming for the Future is about helping the
industry adapt and be sustainable in the
future – economically and environmentally