Tesco has been working with conservation charity WWF on a new accelerator programme that aims to pair start-ups with the supermarket’s suppliers to drive sustainability innovation in the supply chain, which can cut the environmental impact of food and support UK food security.
The group stated that the ‘Innovation Connections’ initiative aims to address a key barrier preventing promising sustainability innovations from being adopted at scale in food supply chains by identifying suppliers who can help scale up new ideas and technologies.
Applicants have been paired with long-term Tesco suppliers to pitch scale-up projects that apply their ideas in the real world of food supply chains. Winners will work with Tesco’s supplier partners to pilot and scale their innovation and will each receive up to £150,000 in funding support.
Ahead of the Innovation Connections finals this month, Tesco is calling on the UK government to do more to unlock innovation in UK food supply chains and support innovations to market readiness.
Specifically, it is asking the Government to set out timelines and process for updating outdated regulations that hinder the scaling-up of late-stage innovations such as insect protein in animal feed or sustainable low-carbon fertilisers, and to create incentives for businesses and consumers who are early adopters of new food system innovations.
“To deliver affordable, healthy and sustainable food for all, the entire food sector must innovate fast,” said Ken Murphy, Tesco’s CEO.
“That’s why, as well as driving improvements in our own operations, Tesco is collaborating with innovative suppliers and start-ups. But we also need government support, to help the food industry to scale proven innovations. The upcoming Food Strategy White Paper is a great opportunity to transform our food system and enhance food security. We hope the paper will set out a process to update outdated regulations that hinder the scaling up of much-needed innovations.”
Tanya Steele, WWF CEO, added: “More than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions are driven by the way we produce and consume food, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible for farms to produce enough nutritious food and sustain farmers’ livelihoods at the same time as protecting and restoring the natural resources they depend on.
“We hope the launch of this new accelerator programme with Tesco will bring innovative solutions a step closer and help us achieve our goal of halving the environmental impacts of the average UK shopping basket.”
